NEW ZEALAND'S TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15237, 26 February 1913, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND'S TRADE.

PLANS FOR RECIPROCITY, CANADA AND AUSTRALIA. CONFERENCES IN MELBOURNE. NEGOTIATIONS towards more cordial commercial relations among the Overseas Dominions have been' proceeding by correspondence for some months. They will bo the subject of two important conferences in Melbourne next month, which wil? be attended by representatives of the Governments of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Inter-trade relations have been discussed among these three countries, and also South Africa. It was hoi cd that the Union Government would be represented at the forthcoming conference, but apparently the political crisis which has arisen owing to the sharp difference between General Hertswg and General Botha has made it difficult for any member of

the Union Government to visit Australia.

The delegates to the conference will be the Hon. G. E. Foster, Minister for Trade and Customs in the Canadian Government, tho Hon. Andrew Fisher, Prime Minister of Australia, and the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, Minister for Customs in the New Zealand Government. Mr. Fisher will leave Now Zealand for Melbourne on ! March 24.

One conference will be between Australia and Now Zealand only. Its purpose is primarily to achieve a trade reciprocity between the two countries.

Questions regarding the pensions systems of Australia and New Zealand will also bo discussed, with a view to effecting some reciprocal arrangement.

Discussing the larger conference yesterday, Mr. Fisher said that it had been arranged at the suggestion of the New Zealand Government. It was unfortunate that no representative of South Africa would be present, but the four Governments had all expressed hopes that the conference would be successful in drawing the Overseas . Dominions into closer trade relationship. Questions relating to the tariffs of the four countries and the interchange of goods would be the principal matters for consideration.

" These is one important matter which I hope will be discussed," said Mr. Fisher. "That is the fact that great difficulty is experienced by many NewZealand uhippers in obtaining space in the vessels of the Vancouver service. The Union Steam Ship Company at present holds the key of the position. For a long time the Now Zealand Government has been subsidising the service, but the bulk of the csixgo space has been filled with Australian produce, though the Commonwealth Government makes no contribution towards the maintenance of the service. 1 think it is about time we took care in New Zealand that while our subsidy is continued, a fair share of the available space should be secured for New Zealand shipments. Without regular access to space, it is practically impossible to build up a permanent trade between th© two Dominions."