HON. F. M. B. FISHER’S MISSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3828, 10 May 1913, Page 7

HON. F. M. B. FISHER’S MISSION.

an INTERVIEW AT AUCKLAND

the minister reticent as to reciprocal agreement.

OLD AGE PENSIONS AND OTHER MATTERS.

fPBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.] AUCKLAND, May 9. Hon F M. B. Fisher (Minister for Customs and Marine) returned to-day bv the Niagara. Questioned as to the **! Tesu lt of his mission, Mr. Fisher was rorv reticent, but remarked: “I* want to say most emphatically that I am not going to attempt to discuss the reciprocal* agreement in any of its details.” Is the agreement signedles; it is signed. I hare fully discussed it with°Mr Andrew Fisher, the Prime Minister,' since Mr. Tudor and I completed it. The agreement has hi st to be considered by the respective Cabinets. and then s.hedules will be submitted to the two Parliaments simultaneously. Is it as extensive an agreement as was" made by the late Mr. Seddon?— Yes ; rpiitc : but I prefer not to discuss either its dimensions or its value just at present. What other matters have you dealt witli ?•—I have been able to satisfactorily conclude an agreement with the Commonwealth Prime Minister under which both countries agree to enter into a joint arrangement whereby old age pensions may henceforth be drawn by persons who have resided in Australasia long enough to qualify fir the pension under the laws of the country >f* which the applicant" is residing, {.’hr the purpose of calculating the pension, residence in either country (had lie deemed to be residence in the country in which the applicant has resided for the twelve months immediately nreceding Ids application. Under the existing laws a man or woman may have been a resident of Austra ia for 10 years and < f New Zealand for •J 4 years, and yet, after a totalof 43 years’ residence and rueful citizenship, is debarred from the benefits of .other Act. lam very glad indeed to have the matter settled. Legislation nil’ bo necessary, out I think both Parliaments will ratify the agreement without any difficulty. Another matter upon which an agreement lias been arrived at,” continued Mr. Fisher, “is one to facilitate trade, and remove, as far as possible, harrassing restrictions at prosent hampering shippers, of produce. An agreement was arrived at after considerable discussion,,-and will in due course, be laid before Parliament. During my visit the Secretary of Customs, Mr. Montgomery, went carefully through our Customs law with Mr. Lockyer, Controller of Federal Customs, "and alterations were noted which will be dealt with during the coming session, bringing about much more equality and uniformity between the Customs Jaws of the two countries.

“A conference was held also between Mr. G. E. Fester (Minister of Trade for Canada), Mr. Tudor (Commonwealth Minister for Trade and Customs), and myself relating to trade relationship between three countries. The position was somewhat complicated, and I am not at present at liberty to state precisely bow matters stand. I say that matters are some- ' what complicated, I moan that a slipshod method of granting preferential tariffs has produced somewhat of a commercial tangle. New Zealand made reciprocal agreement with South Africa, in which she deliberately slammed the door in Australia’s face. Australia retaliated by granting preference to Great Britain, which excluded New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa. Canada, again, has granted preference to New Zealand, but has excluded Australia from its benefits; so the real conception of Empire partnership has been ignored, and we have found members of -one family trying to score off each other. One may readily understand that it is not easy to try and unravel this tqngled commercial skein'satisfactorily, but you will know in time that a great advance has been made. “I took advantage-also of a conversation with Australia's Prime Minister to discuss the matter of coinage,” said the Minister. “'lt appears absurd that two 'oval English-speaking countries should have a coinage with the King’s head upon it in circulation in one country whilst not legal tender in the other. The coinage question is one which will have to be settled by the Legislature, but I don’t see any obstacles that cannot be easily remov'd by a little mutual understanding and friendly arrangement:”