MUTUAL TARIFFS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11163, 20 March 1922, Page 5

MUTUAL TARIFFS

AUSTRALIA AND N.Z.

HON. DOWNIE STEWART INTERVIEWED AT SYDNEY. PLANS FOR THE FL'TTTRE. SYDNEY, March 10. Sydney papers contain interviews with the Hon. W. Downie Stewart, Minister for Internal Affairs, on tho subject of mutual tariff adjustments between Australia and New Zealand. The Australian exports to New Zealand in 1920, Mr Stewart stated to a “Daily Telegranli” representative, were about four times as large as New Zealand’s exports to Australia, and New Zealand manufacturers were, of rourse, eager to have ■substantial, protection against Australian competition. They aslccd that Australia should be placed on the general tariff to givo New Zealand a substantial basis on which to negotiate. New Zealand enjoyed many advantages as a field for manufacturing, owing to her wealth of raw material and abundance of hydroelectric energy now being developed. Without disturbing unduly these interests there were many points upon which mutual contusions could be made to the advantage of both countries. It was possible that on some articles a high tariff would remain, while others would lie admitted practically free, where no harm would be done to .local interests. THE MINISTER’S HOPES. By visiting Australia, the Minister stated, ho hoped to he able to gauge the desires of Industrialists and other interests in both countries, and that a sympathetic and helpful attitudo on both sides would bo engendered. “New Zealand watches with great interest the course of Australian politics,” said Mr Stewart. “We realise that Australian experience contains many valuable lessons for New Zealand, and we are able to draw much of profitable example—sometimes warning—from the course of events in the Commonwealth. Australia is also making such steady and substantial progress in the field of art, literature, and music that I always find a visit to your country extremely interesting and inspiring from an educational point of view.”