TRADE RELATIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10508, 11 February 1928, Page 9

TRADE RELATIONS.

NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA

BETTE I ? V Nl>E RST AN DIN G WANTED

The prospects of improvement of trade relations between New Zealand and Australia were discussed by Mr H. .J. Manson. -Now Zealand Trade Commissioner in Australia, in an interview with a Times representative last evening. . . He explained the possibilities •• nt the development of trade were likely to he «M'eat lv enhanced if a mom-sa-tisfactory trade treaty between the Commonwealth and the Dominion could he effected. At present there were several anomalies in existence that required remedying, and it was gratifying to know that the Federal Minister, of Customs. Mr l’ratton. was to confer with the New Zealand Government' on some of these questions and it was generally hoped' tljat n spirit of compromise would prevail and that a mutually satisfactory, agreement would be reached for better trade relations. Pinpricking anomalies wore unsatisfactory to trade, and from what lie knew of conditions* on the other side of the Tasman there was a decided opinion there should he a hotter understanding between Hie two countries and many of the bigger merchants held .the feeling that Australia should be more generous and act in a “big brother'’ manner towards the Dominion. One difficulty arose through the products of the countries being similar, Australia taking from New Zealand soft woods, judos, tinned and frozen fish and hemp whilst- New Zealand on Hie other hand imported from Australia hardwood, fresh and dried fruits and leather manufactures. The imposition of heavy duty on New Zealand butter was due to the interests being averse to the Dominion encroaching on their preserves, protesting they wore unable to manufacture butter cheaply enough to compete with the New Zealand product. The duty was imposed with no unfriendly spirit towards the Dominion, hut. hcenusc conditions in Australia did not norm it their competition with Now Zealand butter, though he took it as rather a compliment to tile Dominion that it could produce and land butter in Australia and undersell the local product-