MINISTER REPLIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21857, 20 July 1934, Page 13

MINISTER REPLIES

TRADE WITH JAPAN NO SPECIAL TREATMENT NEGOTIATIONS POSSIBLE VALUE OF AGREEMENTS [BY TRLEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION! WELLINGTON, Thursday Thn debate on the Tariff Commission's report was concluded in the House of Representatives to-day, when the Minister of Customs, Mr. Coatcs, replied to the discussion. Mr. Coatcs said some members suggested that Japan should be selected for special treatment, but that he thought to he unwise. New Zealand never selected any country for special treatment except where dumping was occurring. As far as Japan's trade with New Zealand was concerned, the better course would bo to carry out private negotiation's to see how far New Zealand's requirements could be met from Japan. There were many items in the genoral tariff which should he reduced, but it was felt that the general tariff should be left generally undisturbed to give bargaining points when seeking new markets. He thought trade agreements were the best way of extending the Dominion's trade, but the moment trade agreements were entered into, difficulties arose on account of changing conditions, and they would have to be settled. Not long ago, Japan provided naval protection for New Zealand, and he thought that most New Zealanders would like to be on most friendly terms with that nation. He knew of no better method than the present, but that was not to say that in the near future they would not

have to adopt as an adjunct quantitative regulation. During the last four years, as compared with 1925, New Zealand's imports from Japan had decreased.

He agreed with the commission that in the long run the world would return to old conditions, but in the meantime, it might go a long way from them. He 'believed New Zealand must meanwhile work toward trade agreements. The debate had been a long one and useful in general, but he would have liked to get down to a little more detail.

Mr. E. J. Howard (Labour —Christchurch South): You said we should wait for the items to. come down. Mr. Coates referred to Mr. Savage's statement that he would abolish all revenue duties. Mr. Savage: On things that must be imported. Mr. Coates: Then how docs he propose to pay the increased wages and salaries he mentions? Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland Central): Confiscatory taxation. Mr. Coates said he did not agree that the Ottawa Agreement had one meaning for New Zealand and another for Australia. Britain had the right to say what she would take from any country.

Mr. Coates said he wanted to know what Mr. Savage's plan was before the session ended. So far he had made only a series of general statements. Was the Leader of the Opposition playing up to the manufacturers or the importers? Mr. Savage's plans suffered from vagueness, and he gave no indication of how he would carry out his statements. QUESTION IN COMMONS FREE TRADE SUGGESTION MR. THOMAS NON-COMMITTAL LONDON, July 18 Mr. G. Mander (Liberal —Wolverhampton East), in the House of Commons to-day, asked whether, in view of New Zealand's tariff reductions, the Government would take the opportunity of arranging for the free exchange of commodities. The Dominions Secretary, Mr. J. H. Thomas, said the Government very much appreciated New Zealand's spirit of co-operation. He did not feel, however, that the general considerations he had outlined to the House in May were affected by these changes.

In the course of a speech in the House of Commons on May 7, the Dominions Secretary, referring specially to New Zealand, said a number of people in the Dominion had urged upon their Government that if all tariffs against British goods were removed Britain would take everything New Zealand cared to send. The New Zealand Government's communication in regard to this was not taken by the British Government as an offer because it was perfectly obvious that no New Zealand Government could entertain such a proposition for two minutes. The Minister pointed out that 25 per cent of New Zealand's revenue was from tariffs. How could Britain give one Dominion preference over another in the same commodity? If New Zealand had made an actual offer of free, trade Britain then would have been forced to demand the same treatment from 'Australia, or to treat Australian goods differently from those of New Zealand.

FOUR-YEAR PARLIAMENTS PERMANENT EXTENSION NOTICE OF BILL GIVEN [by telegraph—special reporter] WELLINGTON, Thursday The permanent extension of the life of Parliament from three to four years is the object of the Electoral Amendment Bill' (No. 2), notice of which was given in the House of Representatives to-day by the Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes. r ,. By section 35 of the Finance Act, passed during the emergency session early in 1932, the duration of the present Parliament was extended by one year, so that the next general election Will 'not take place until the end of next year, instead of at the end of this year. " The purpose of the present bill is to extend this provision to subsequent Parliaments, thus making the maximum interval of four years between general elections. INTERRUPTION IN HOUSE young man removed £bY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Thumlny A stir was caused in the House of Representatives immediately after prayers this afternoon, when a young well-dressed man, loaning against a pillar in the public, gallery, began in deliberate and unhurried tones to recite a religious formula. Orderlies in the gallery made toward the man when he began to speak, and he "was removed without further incident.