CANADIAN RECIPROCITY.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2647, 16 May 1923, Page 5

CANADIAN RECIPROCITY.

[By Electric Cable —Copyright.]

[Anst. and N.Z. CabLo Association.] (Received Tuesday, 5.5 p.m.) OTTAWA. May 14.

Mr. Forke, leader of the Progressives in the House of Commons, introduced an amendment to the Budget, proposing reciprocity with the United States, as outlined in the proposed 'l9ll agreement, also amendments providing for an immediate increase in British preference to 50 per cent, and a substanial reduction in the tariff on the necessities of life and the production of implements. Sir Henry Drayton, former Conservative Minister of Finance., called the reciprocity proposal an idle gesture designed to please the Progressives.

Mr Fielding, in his Budget speech, announced that if Australia would agree to an arrangement bringing her under British preference as concerns the Canadian tariff, currants and raisins "would enter free and all other Australian products would receive the same preferential treatment which the British receive. Canada desired to accord Australia exceptional opportunities for trade with the Dominion, by permitting wool to be exempt from the sales tax. Currants and raisins, under the regular tariff, will now carry a duty increased to three cents a pound. Mr Fielding said the purpose of this is to permit Australia an advantage over other competitors by agreeing to the preference arrangement.