N.Z. Truth THE NATIONAL PAPER MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1930. HOPEFUL

NZ Truth, Issue 1306, 22 December 1930, Page 4

N.Z. Truth THE NATIONAL PAPER MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1930. HOPEFUL

THE news that Canada and Aus- . tralia have reached a tentative trade agreement will be particularly welcome m New Zealand, and although at time of writing the details have not been released for publication, so that it is impossible to form any judgment as to the extent of the agreement, it is pleasing to see that Canada is ! eager to reach reciprocal arrangeiments with other Dominions. At least this agreement holds out hope that a somewhat similar agreement can be negotiated between New Zealand and Canada. There is no question that such an agreement is required, and no trouble should be spared m endeavoring to effect it.. Both countries will lose much as a result of the higher tariff placed on Canadian cars coming into New Zealand and on New Zealand butter entering Canada. The butter duty was a severe blow to New Zealand, but the higher duty on Canadian products was an equally severe blow to our sister Dominion. The trade between Canada and New Zealand was steadily built up over a period of years, and it gave about mutual benefit to each Dominion. Consequently if a sound working arrangement can be effected between, the two countries each will reap a decided benefit. There should exist no reason why such an agreement cannot be negotiated. Each Dominion requires it, and since the Imperial Conference failed so miserably to evolve any practical scheme of Empire trade, it is only by reciprocal agreements between individual Dominions that anything m the nature of Empire trade can/ be achieved m the meanwhile. Such agreements, benefitting individual Dominions directly, should ultimately make the task of evolving a sound and practical scheme f or/ Empire trade easier, and should do much to pave the way to entire economic co-opera-tion between the various com- . ponent parts of the Empire.