TARIFF NEGOTIATIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 April 1925, Page 5

TARIFF NEGOTIATIONS

' AUSTRAL-CANAdIAN HITCH (Australian and N.Z" Cable Association.) OTTAWA, April 27. Mr. Meighan (Opposition Leader) rebel in Parliament, ’a Melbourne Press clespatcli quoting Mr. Bruce’s latest utterance on the AustralianCaAadiah.*Tariff. Treaty. ' . The Premier (Mr. . McKenzie King) commenting on this, said he would not make any' statement based on newspaper reports,, but he added that the last commu rtf cation from Mr; Bruce inquired regarding certain proposed changes by Canada, which communication had riot yet been answered. , Mr. King added that until the question of the amount of material of British origin to be stipulated, had been sbttled, Canada hid not propose to make any changes in her tariff. Mr. King then announced that Mi-. D. H. Ross, former Trade ’Commissioner to, Australia was being sent to the Commonwealth in an. endeavour to straighten out the tangle over the Treaty. Mr. King added that after the Com/nonwealth Parliament made certain changes In the Treaty, an Order-in-Council was passed providing that' to 'avail of' the Australian preference, 75 per cent, of British material and labour inust enter .the exported article. This proposal had betfri- tliScusked durihg the negotiations. ■ Mr.' King, said: “We do not propose to ask the-House to sanction

the Treaty until we get -this phase remedied. Mr. Ross will conduct further /negotiations ,and we hope the matter in dispute will be arranged satisfactorily.” '■ Mr. Meighan retorted: “I would gather there is no hope of legislation this session!”Mr.’King replied: “I must not say that. I rather hope there! will.” Various. Opposition Members then expressed their view' that the .75 per cent, proviso was Wrongly interpreted, and that its application would not appreciably affect Canadian exports. Members moreover, intimated that there were other matters than the 75 per cent, proviso delaying the Treaty. " ■ - Mr. King dissented, and the discussion ended. S. AFRICAN .PROPOSALS CAPETOWN, April 27. A bitter debate is proceeding in the Union Assembly oil the Government’s budget. General Smuts declared: “We will not acquiesce in any policy which places the Empire behind other countries. When our day comes' we 1 will reverse the Government’s policy, and see that Britain is treated (as she should be.” He moved that the estimates be referred back with instructions to submit amended tariff proposals that would recognise the principle that Britain should enjoy a preference above foreigners. Mr. Cress’well (Labour Leader) replying, argued that General Smuts was advocating the old policy of the sixteenth century, namely that t’-f British Dominions should be run for the economic profit of Great Britain which policy, he said, had lost Britain her American colonies.