Grey River Argus TUESDAY, March 27, 1928. OUR TRADE WITH AUSTRALIA.

Grey River Argus, 27 March 1928, Page 4

Grey River Argus TUESDAY, March 27, 1928. OUR TRADE WITH AUSTRALIA.

The Commonwealth Minister of Customs, Mr Pratten, now visiting the Dominion, hit off nicely in Christchurch on Saturday the conflict of interests as between this country and Australia in the matter of mutual trading. Those who speak for the wheat-growing interests of New Zealand are very suspicious of Mr Pratten, and the reason is obvious. They are anxious to see New Zealand grown

wheat get the best possible prices, and they realise that the only means to that end is to bar the wheat produced in Australia from our market. It is true that Australia is a protectionist country, and that is why her secondary industries are miles ahead of ours in New Zealand. Mr Pratten remarked:—“lt appears from the press reports that this season’s New Zealand harvest will produce nine million bushels. There has been a pronounced falling off in Australia’s trade, with an abundant harvest in this Dominion! and for this year it looks as though Australia’s trade with you in these commodities must become extinct. It costs 7s 9d per bushel at least to land Australia’s wheat, duty paid, in New Zealand. You have imposed a duty against us which ensures a favourable price to wheat-growers to induce the production of sufficient wheat to meet your requirements. The intention is that New Zealand should be independent of imported wheat. New Zealand can, and has in the past, produced enough wheat for its own requirements, and unless the policy fails—a result the Government and the farmer would surely not like to see— New Zealand will not require imported wheat. Exit, therefore, Australian trade. The value of Australian export trade in wheat and flour to New Zealand during I the five years ending June 30th, 1927, was £8,750,000. Your butter trade was nothing like this, and comparing the two items of trade, Australia suffers the. greater loss.” The application of the argument as against Australian flofir and wheat, which papers like the Christchurch “Press” and the Canterbury farmers love to use, to the case of Australia’s extra duty against New Zealand butter, is where Mr Pratten scores a point. Australia produces nearly 150 million bushels of wheat yearly, and is willing to let New Zealand have as much as she wants at a cheaper rate than she sells to any other country. Our policy, however, has been to protect our farmers with high duties, and therefore Australia has countered -with a stiff duty against our butter just at the time when a market in the Commonwealth would suit New Zealand admirably. The story is—or will be—the sanie with potatoes., which Australia will not admit from this country when there is any ob-1 ejection from Tasmania or any other State. The gentry, however,

who say that in order to ensure wheat growing in New Zealand, we should ignore the Australian market altogether, are protectionist in regard to wheat, and the wonder is why they are the opposite in regard to praetieally every one of the manufactured commodities which we import from other countries. They are inconsistent. It is well known that Australia puts her own industries first every time, and New Zealand ought to do the same. If we can do without Australian wheat, even if it costs us two or three pounds a ton more for flour, then we can do without Australian coal, and likewise without Canadian timber. The press supporters of New Zealand farmers deliberately close their eyes to this phase of the matter. If it comes to a test of consistency, New Zealand cannot comptire with Australia in the matter of fiscal policy.

A COMMENDABLE SPIRIT. A good lead for local sporting organisations is that which has been lately given by the Greymouth Boxing Asso ciation in organising benefit functions for the dependents of those if its members who have joined the great majority. This enterprise is in keeping with a tradition that has grown up in many parts of the British Empire. Indeed the cricketing world has a record of benefits for notable exponents of the “King of Gaines” while they are yet in the land of the living, ami it is noteworthy that among the votaries of the noble art of self defence many a charitable cause in the large centres has been greatly helped by their voluntary efforts. lu Sydney and Melbourne the hospitals on many occasions have had their funds swelled by the boxers, who have come forward and performed in large numbers without thought of remuneration, and the Greymouth Boxing Association is living up to the best traditions of the ring by helping the dependents of those who in their day gave of their best to uphold the sport which is the

goal of the Association. It has given other sporting bodies a very good example, and a of recognition is the least that it should be given. Its initiative has been well seconded by the stout-hearted exponents of boxing on the Coast. who. have to a man turned out in helping the Association to attain a successful result. The fact that it has launched a second benefit effort goes to emphasise its altruistic and commendable spirit, which must servo to raise the status of fisticuffs in the popular estimation. After having made a successful endeavour in

one instance, it has this week another such venture in hand, and in its sense of gratitude for the work of those who upheld boxing h-ere in years gone by. we have no doubt it will find a hearty and substantial response from the public generally. Many a supporter of sport has unfortunately been forgotten when his youthful vigour and spontaneous enthusiasm have left him. and it is a fine sense of gratitude which inspires .those who have been entertained by the endeavours of sports supporters to remember their dependents when they themselves can no longer do so. The two benefit efforts lately undertaken by the Greymouth Boxing Asso ciation have been most worthy of popular support, and we have no doubt that in the one case as in the other the public will generously second the action of the Association..