TRADE RELATIONS

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 253, 20 September 1930, Page 9

TRADE RELATIONS

NEW ZEALAND AND CANADA. MR FORBES IN NEW YORK. WORK AT EMPIRE CONFERENCE. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph. —Copyright.) Received September 20, 10.0 a.m. NEW YORK, Sept. 19. Hon. G. W. Forbes, Prime Minister of New Zealand, arrived here to-day, en route to London. Tlie Australian Press Association representative had an interview with Mr Forbes and asked him for a review of the results of his. Canadian trip. “Naturally, tho wind was taken out of our sails when we learn on arriving in Canada of the large increases in the butter duty. We had planned to discuss with tho Canadian Government trade matters of mutual interest and had a plan in mind for increasing the trade between the two Dominions. Our discussions with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Trade, in Ottawa, however, could only be brief. The Government was busy with its tariff measure and the business of the House. It was, therefore, decided to continue our discussions in London.”

Mr Forbes seemed personally optimistic, and declared that a solution would undoubtedly be reached before the Imperial Conference adjourned. He said lie realised that the Canadian-New Zealand situation was only one aspect of the entire Empire trade problem, which, he was confident, would be considerably advanced toward solution by the Imperial Conference. There was a realisation in Canada that there were instruments of redress available against any attempt to make the trade relationship between the two Dominions too one-sided. i * “The Prime Minister, Mr R. B. Bennett, informed us that increases in the butter duty were necessary for the encouragement and protection of the Canadian daily farmers. I felt that we understood, however, that the balance of trade had considerably favoured Canada and that it w'as impossible that an equitable interchange of commodities could long continue when the balance of trade favoured one party to the serious disadvantage of the other,” Mr Forbes added. Asked concerning the film tax, Mr Forbes said that the film interests here had made no engagements to discuss the matter with him. He hoped that if his arrangements in London permitted he would return to New Zealand via the United States and would visit Washington.