A TARIFF BARGAIN

Grey River Argus, 17 April 1925, Page 5

A TARIFF BARGAIN

NOT YET SIGNED. CANADIAN AUSTRALIAN TRADE. OTTAWA, April .15. Hou. Air Robb stated in the Canadian House of Commons that the Ca-nadian-Australian tariff agreement was ■ s till under negotiation. No agreem-ent had yet been signed. I lb’t-oi ved A pril IG al 9.50 p.m.) OTTAWA, April 15. -•- 1 • M<-( l )mirrie, member for Now Westminster, British Columbia, rr ferring iu tin Canadian ’House of Commons during the budget debate, to a visit which he recently paid to Ain tialia. stated that he had found mu< I propaganda in Australia against Canadian trade. The Australians were being 1«»ld that Canada prefers to do business with Hie United States. Mr McQuarrie said: ‘ f Wo did what we could to offset this view: but T am afraid that the Australians are beginning to think that there is something in it, because of the action of this Governni-ent in delaying the bringing ol a tariff treaty into operation. 1 cannot umlerstand why this Government is acting in such an uncalledfor manner. An agreement, apparently, was entered into, but we have not been able to get the particulars of it in this House. The Australians are beginning to wonder what has happened to it. So are the people of Canada. It is rumoured that the Californian fruit interests are opposed to this treaty, which is also objected to by the Progressive Party. A good deal of harm will be done to our relations with Australia, if Hie agreement is not. brought down promptly and dealt with in a proper way.” Mr Meighnn (cx-Prcmier) asked Hie Government if there was anything further to report concerning the Australian tariff treaty. TTon. Mr Robb said that he had. nothing to add to the statement that lie made a few days ago, but h * would like to point out that this wis an agreement, and not a treaty: anl it had not yet been signed. Mr Mcighan then asked if it ■■ould not he laid on the Table for nerusal by tho House. Mr Robb replied: “Not until it is signed! ’' Mr AlnoLoaii, Member for Toronto, said he had received a letter i'rom an Australian paper importer, urging that this treaty be completed. Mr Robb replied that he had received manv such letters.