HOLDING OUT THE HAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15902, 13 April 1912, Page 9

HOLDING OUT THE HAND.

TARIFF RECIPROCITY

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND (From Our Correspondent. ] ■ WELLINGTON, April 12.

When Mr Andrew Fisher, Commonwealth Prime Minister, makes his visit to New Zealand, as is his intention shortly, be will find a very sympathetic reception for the reciprocal tariff arrangement he is anxious to briim about between the two countries. The Hon George Laurenson, Minister of Customs, told a representative of the “Lyttelton Times” to-day that he was aware of Mr Fisher’s desire in a general way, and he hoped there would be some arrangement mutually satisfactory to the Commonwealth and the dominion. “ To-morrow,” he said, “ I am going to be interviewed by the Canterbury implement makers, who have established a 1 reputation outside . New Zealand for their products. They say that under a 1 reciprocal treaty with Australia they could do a very large trade with Australia, as in fact they did before the Commonwealth tariff came into operation. Wo might respond by removing the duty from certain timbers peculiar to Australia and largely used here. There is not much we can offer to Aus r tralia' in that way outside concessions on timber and wines. That is the great- drawback, but there should be-'a very strong desire on our part- to meet Australia in every possible way.” The interviewer suggested that in times of scarcity in either country the inflation of prices of food products might be prevented if free exchange could bo arranged. “ Yes,” replied Mr Laurenson. “Under some arrangement of tariff with a sliding scale of prices wo could give protection to our producers and at the same time secure for the consumers of both countries low prices by reducing the duty in exceptional circumstances which tended to undue inflation.”