PREFERENTIAL TRADE

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12022, 27 December 1924, Page 4

PREFERENTIAL TRADE

BRITAIN ANB DOMINIONS CO-OPERATION BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AiND NEW ZEALAND. POLICY OP THE EMPIRE. A hope was expressed by Dr. Earle Page, Australian Commonwealth Treasurer, in the course of an interview on hoard the Niagara, by which he is travelling to Canada, that the reciprocal trade treaty existing between Australia and New Zealand would be extended to ensure the progress and expansion of trade between the two countries. It was to the advantage cf both dominions that, instead of suicidal competition being carried on in the markets of the ojd world, to which they simultaneously sent their produce, there should ba the utmost harmony and co-operation. With that end in view the Australian Government had followed the example of the New Zealand Government in passing the Dairy Export Control Act, which had been framed on the lines of the Dominion enactment. GOOD FOR PRODUCERS. This Commonwealth measure had secured the national contiol cf the Australian export surplus, in the hands of a board appointed by the industry itself. By harmonious co-opera-tion with the New Zealand board Australia was hopeful that the returns to the producers of both countries would be increased by securing reductions m freights, diminutions in dandling charges, and continuous, instead of spasmodic, supply of Australia and New Zealand products on the London market, with better average prices. IMPERIAL PREFERENCE. Dr. Page also expressed appreciation of the hearty manner in which the Government and the people of New Zealand were co-operating in the fight for Imperial preference. It was gratifying to note that the present British Government had stated its intention of carrying out the decisions of the Imperial Economic Conference, where such did not impose an extra duty on the food, of the British people, and, in addition, hoped to make the remainder effective by providing £1,000,000 subsidy to assist inter-Em-pire trade.