THE OTTAWA DELEGATES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 18 June 1932, Page 2

THE OTTAWA DELEGATES

(To-the Editor)

Sir, —I beg to suggest that the New Zealand deputation to Ottawa also arrange a private conference with Mr Hoover, the President of U.S.A., to arrange for a meeting at Honolulu to form a “seasonal reciprocal tariff’ because owing to the American summer being our winter our surplus apples and butter would be appreciated when their markets are bare and price of foodstuffs high. I visited Oregon and Washington, the apple States, some time ago, in the month of March, and to my surprise apples were sold at the cheapest at 5 cents each), being their winter, while here there is a glut. A Motueka resident told me that the waste of apples there Is appalling, and a relative informs me that his apples realised 2s per case —the box costing Is. The point is, there is that great nation. the U.S.A., with 130,000,000 prospective customers, within 14 days’ steam from Auckland to Los Angeles. Surely an arrangement could be made to reciprocate. Our New Zealand rugs and blankets are the best in the world, and are valued in winter in U.S.A. where I noticed many people seemed satisfied with cotton blankets. The Matson lino is a boon to New Zealand, and will bring a stream of wealthy tourists to fill our hotels. The American shipping laws might also be adjusted to suit Pacific conditions, as, no doubt, their Shipping Acts were stimulated by the American Labour Unions in order to keep out European and Japanese ships, manned with cheap labour, from trading on the American coasts, which would reduce American seamen’s wages. It is amusing to note that the New Zealand Seamen’s Unions or waterfront men who created the big disastrous strike here in 1913, which cost their country about a million of money, are now crying out abut a monthly Matson steamer from touching at Auckland, which means a weekly mail from America. New Zealand is destined to he a great maritime nation, and ships of all countries must be encouraged, as this is the day of the brotherhood of man—so the Labour Party pretends to teach.—l am, etc., A NEW ZEALANDER. Wellington, 15th June.