HIGH TARIFFS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22777, 10 July 1937, Page 20

HIGH TARIFFS

POLICY IN AMERICA

TRADE WITH DOMINIONS DIFFICULTIES FACED Non-committal replies to questions about the prospect of New Zealand making more favourable trade agreements with the United States in the near future, wore given yesterday by Mr. Maxwell Mac Master, president of the American Importers' and Exporters' Association of New York, who arrived by the Mariposa. Although business men in the larger American cities wore sympathetic, he said, the majority of farmers and the shopkeepers in small towns were opposed to any relaxation of existing tariffs. Mr. Mac Master, whose association is closely in touch with various State departments in America, is going to Australia in the capacity of an unofficial ambassador who will seek to further the friendly trade relationships between that country and his own. In a lew weeks ho will visit Now Zealand, with a similar purpose in view, Ho said that , although American business men generally held both countries in high regard, ho suggested there were difficulties in the way of lowering tariffs. "No matter what their political views, trade executives for the most ifmrt are in favour of the freer trade tariffs policy sponsored by the Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull," said Mr. Mac Master, "but the trouble is that Australia and New Zealand, like the United States, are agricultural countries. It must bo remembered that the American agriculturist lias many troubles of his own, and he cannot look at the tariffs question from any other angle than the fear that a change may bring him further trouble and harm." Nevertheless, he continued, bo far as New Zealand was concerned, administrative officials in Washington were hopeful that after a conference it might bo possible to arrive at conclusions that would bo advantageous and bring about freer intercourse of merchandise botweon America and the Dominion. The two countries had a groat deal in common, and he was sanguine that his stay of three months in Now Zealand and Australia would bring about a better understanding of the problem.