TARIFF RECIPROCITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18074, 26 April 1922, Page 7

TARIFF RECIPROCITY.

DOMINION' AND AUSTRALIA. 1 ADJUSTMENT DIFFICULT, j SIMILARITY OF PRODUCTION; By T»;e;r»cl»—Preai Association —Copyright Receded 8.5 D.m.i A. and N" Z SYDNEY. April i 4. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart. New ; Zc.iiiaiid Minister for Customs, was the principal cuest at a luncfteon given by the National L'iub, which represents '..he social side of the Coalition Government. Mr Piatten, a Member of the Federal Senate, in welcoming Mr. Stewart, expressed the hope that a fail give-and-take agreement, had been reached between Australia and New Zealand. Thev all believed in preferential treatment ten' the Mother Coun:rv and reciprocal arrangement, with the Dominions. Mr. Stewart, repiymg said that, trade reciprocity was a very thorny question, consequently he was diffident about discussing the terms of the agreement., which, wxuid ultimately coiue before both Governments for Glial acceptance or rejection. The Dominion and the Commonwealth were both isolated from the rest <j' the world and both were producing inu> h '.he same products, making it difficult to arrange an equitable agreement. The fundamental difference was that Australia gave pieference to Britain only, whereas New Zealand gave the same preference to the Dominions as well ils to the Mother Coun try. He reviewed the effects the l.ommunwealth s iafest tariff would have mi : Ne\y Zealand, and said that consequently. Australia had been put hy New Zealand outside the preference pale until adjust , ment was made, as New Zealand did not, | want her markets flooded. He thought free trade possible in some classes of ; goods. though he recognised it would be . difficult to make a satisfactory agreement j respecting primary products and mauu--1 factures. New Zealand's imports from j Australia were considerably greater than, j Australia's imports from New Zealand. : I showing that Australia was more con-; ' cerned in the trade than New Zealand. Furthermore, apart from commercial rea- j i sons, greater trading facilities and the; promotion of intercourse would be advat l .-j tageous from the sentimental point of ■ view, tending to the cultivation of keener i interest in the affairs of both countries. | 1