THE TREATY WITH CANADA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21166, 26 April 1932, Page 8

THE TREATY WITH CANADA.

The delay suffered by Hie trade agreement with Canada has been very disappointing. "\\ hen Mi*. Downie Stewart returned from Honolulu to report that he had made a tentative settlement with the Canadian representative, everyone hoped that the bargain would speedily be brought to its final stages and trade between the two Dominions would be given a badlyneeded stimulus. "Wherever responsibility for the delay may rest it has disappointed those hopes completely. Now there is an assurance, unofficial but very positive in tone, that announcement of the terms is close at hand, and that ratification of the treaty will follow quickly. This report, if substantially founded, is very welcome. The nature of the agreement is indicated in a general way, but all that is suggested is probable enough. Butter, of course, is the vital item to New Zealand. The forecast says the duty will be reduced to five cents a pound, the rate now levied on Australian imports. New Zealand could riot hope to be given better treatment than Australia. It may have required a struggle before equal terms were granted, seeing that it was New Zealand rather than Australian butter which figured so largely in the, last Canadian general election. On the other hand, this country could not be expected to be satisfied with less than was conceded the Commonwealth, for the two arc direct rivals in the market, and Australia spoke definitely of capturing the whole of the trade from New Zealand as the result of being- first in the field with a treaty. "With the two on a level the issue can be decided by quality of output and salesmanship, as it should be. This does not mean there is nothing to fear from Australian rivalry, but there will at least be the satisfaction of meeting it on equal terms. If the forecast is accurate as a whole, the sooner the final steps are taken, and trade can be pursued in freedom from the differences which have already ruled far too long, the better will it be for both the parties to the pact.