TRADE WITH AUSTRALIA.

Grey River Argus, 3 May 1922, Page 3

TRADE WITH AUSTRALIA.

NEW ZEALAND TARIFF NEGOTIATIONS. DOWN IE STEWART’S STATEMENT. (Per Press Association A AUCKLAND, May 2. The tariff negotiations between New Zealand amP”Australia were the subject of a statement by the Hon. Downie Stewart on his arrival from Sydney. He said he could not make any forecast as to how far the agreement made would prove satisfactory to New Zealand Parliament or the Australian Parliament. It had to be remembered that two previous agreements had failedto secure ratification. The present agreement was, however, on a much more elaborate scale than anything hitherto attempted. Apart altogether from what was decided upon, certain further proposals were made by the Commonwealth Government, of a. far-reaching nature, which he promised to submit to his colleagues for their consideration. These involved issues which had not bee considered before he left New Zealand, and he therefore did not feel warranted in taking action regarding them. While avoiding any reference to the terms of the proposed treaty, the Minister said that arrangements had been made whereby goods of British origin in transit through either country, or re-exported from either country, ceased to be subjected to an extreme tariff. It had been contended to operate as from May 1 bul he had not yet heard whether the necessary steps had been taken in Melbourne and Wellington. As to the remainder of the tariff proposals, said the Minister, if this tentative agreement was allowed, it should help to restore the zolume of trade to something approaching that r; ding prior to the recent revision of the l •.■iff in both countries.