TARIFF RECIPROCITY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15885, 3 October 1913, Page 2

TARIFF RECIPROCITY.

NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA*

"NOT SO EASY AS IT LOOKK"

(FnoK Oira Ows ConaisroTOiNT,)

SYDNEY, September 27. Dominion Day pasted without any celebrations at all in Kydney, but in Melbourne the Government representative (Mr Manson) held a reception, which was followed at night by a dinner, the Prime Minister (Mr Cook) boing the principal speaker. Mr W. LL Quick presided at tihe dinner, and among the guests wcro the Prime Minister, the Lord Mayor, Sir Joseph Walton, M.P., Mr Milne (British Trade Commissioner), and Mr D. Rosa (Canadian Trade Commissioner), Mr Cook congratulated New Zealanders on their local patriotism. Men were the better for preserving these "local patriotisms." A man was the better townsman for being a good husband and father; a better State man for being a good townsman; a better Commonwealth man for being a good solid man for his own State; and a better oitizon of tiheir great Empire for being a proud Commonwealth man.—(Cheers.) If ho scratched them ho would find a picture of New Zealand, end tho thought that it was the finest plaoe in the world.—(Cheers.) A Voice. Gkw'a own country.—(Lauder.) Mr Cook begged pardon. He had forgotten tho j'amous phraso. He congratulated New Zealand on its astuteness when' rt_ completed its reciprocal arrangement with Canada It was not half slow when it fixed up that little arrangement, an arrangement, that we in Australia let slip. The result had been a great increase in trade with Canada. He hoped there would be more of these treaties.

A Voice: What about a treaty between Austraha and New Zealand?

Mr Cook: Reciprocity was not so easy to bring about as it 6cemed in a pleasant atmosphere of this kind.—(Laughter.) These matters were in the making. Just to what extent the making had taJsen place recently ho was not prepared to say. Frankly there was not much time to grapple with these matters, but they were anxiously looking for a time cf. leisure when they might be able to devote themselves to such a prosaic and all important subject as reciprocal treaties.—(Cheers.) Thev wondered sometimes why the Old Land did not give no preference. Ho did not do so, because they had no right to do so until somo movement had been made for tihe linking up of the Dominions together.—(" Hear, hear.") It they in the Dominions and Empire outposts found it difficult to make trade arrangements, how much more difficult was it for the Mother Country to do so with her peculiar circumstances and environment, and her tremendous business interests.—(Cheers.) Heir immediate duty was to deal with local tariff arrangements so as to bring the dominions into closer touch'with one-an-other, and perhaps one day the Mother Country might come into somo such arrangement as the one he was discussing. But for the moment they must leave her out of account. But there were no such tremendous obstacles in the ■ way of reciprocal treaties between the outposts of Empire 1 . He hoped they might be able to do something hero with New Zealand. The imports of New Zealand manufactured goods or produce into the Commonwealth in 1912 were valued at £2,979,628, the total imports beicg £3,352,444 in'value. 'The value of Australia's exports to New Zealand was £2,228,551. In the present position of political affairs there were other things to do than make reciprocal treaties, —(Cheers.) They were getting closer together. They were unifying their military defences, and New Zealand was sending her boys to the military college. It might be that some day they would do the same 1

in US-mi affefes. Whether New Zealand csme into a oommon fleet or sot did not matter as long as the contribatiora wero going into the Empire oommon stock Let New Zealand do as she chose, and Aii*trolia would do, the ante. Each was doing its best to show thai they did not intend any longer to be a burden on the Mother Country, and that they realised their sponsibility as full-bearded men determined that there should be mutuality of obligation as well as of privilege.—(Cheers.) Mr Manson, responding, expressed di*appointment that the Prime Minister wa» not nblo to say something more definite with reapeci to the reciprocity arrange ment. He hoped, however, fho agreemeni signed by the New Zealand Government would bo ratified by the two Parliaments. —(Cheers.) As illustrating what Australia lost owing to the failure of previous negotiations, he pointed out that under New Zealand's reciprocal arrangement with South Africa that dominion hid got a wine trade which belonged to Australia.

The question was asked of the Minister of Customs in the Federal House of Representatives on Thursday whether action had been taken, or was likely to be taken, this session to effect reciprocal trade arrangements between New Zealand and the Commonwealth, and whether tbe House would have an opportunity of dealing with the question? The Minister (Mr Groom) replied that he had considered the matter personally, and it was being considered in relation to tfce tariff. It could not be said at present whether the matter could be dealt with this session.