TRADE TREATY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 25 July 1928, Page 7

TRADE TREATY.

arrangement with Japan

.duty on butter reduced

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 24. In the House of Representatives todav the. Minister of Finance (Hon. W Downie Stewart) laid on the table notes on negotiations for a trade treaty between Japan and New Zealand. He said' the chief benefit arisiu<r from the trading arrangement vmi Id be a reduction of the Japanese duty on New Zealand butter of id P er lb. . The Leader of the Opi>osition asked what, if any, reciprocal concessions had been made to Japan. Mr. G. W. Forbes and Mr. It. I . Lee (Oamaru) complained that members were not afforded information regarding such papers before they were brought down. The latter asked what statutory authority the Minister had to enter into such an arrangement. Mr. J. A. Lee (Auckland) said it was extremely unwise to trust an irresponsible, Ministry with too much bargaining power. Members now could not have over-much confidence in the “Coates and Confidence” crv. ■lf bargains were to lie made the House should make them. Mr. Harris (Waitemata) expressed anxiety as to what terms may have been made with Japan. If any preference was to be given it should be given to European nations. Mr. W. A. Veitcli wanted to know I whether New Zealand or Japan had 1 got the better of the bargain. There were many reasons why New Zealand should treat Japan generously. , The Hon. D. Stewart, in replying, said this new arrangement had been made so as to obtain more favourable terms for New Zealand butter. He had been approached by Waikato dairymen and others, who bad asked him to endeavour to obtain terms as favourable as those enjoyed by Canada. The result of the negotiations was that New Zealand was now in a better position than Australia, and some Australian newspapers had been reproaching themselves for allowing New Zealand to get ahead of Australia in such an important matter. Japan already enjoyed the advantages we extended to favoured nations, and there were no special provisions for further reciprocal advantages, although Japan would automatically share in anything further that might be allowed to favoured nations. The whole object of the arrangement was to improve the iiosition of our butter exporters.