TRADE WITH SOUTH AFRICA.

Otago Witness, 5 December 1900, Page 14

TRADE WITH SOUTH AFRICA.

Mr Thomas Mackenzie, M.H.R., in speaking at the meeting of farmers at Oamaru en Saturday, said that the proposal to wLablish a regular direct service to South Africa • was a step in the right direction, but that concurrent with that movement the important question of the tariff on our produce entering South Africa should also. receive imniediate attention. The Customs Union ditties in force before the war — and now in part suspended — would, if reimposed, interfere enormously against the permanent success of trade with Cape Colony and other colonies in South Africa. On butter and cheese the duty was 3d per lb, on oats lOd per bushel ; wheat, barley, 2s per 1001b ; on meats - — tinned and frozen — Id to 2d per lb ; ort _ flour 4s 6d per 1001b ; and other goods in proportion. Now was the time for the Government of this colony to approach ihe Govern- <-' ments in South Africa and urge upon them, the propriety of making concessions on British produce entering their ports. So far as New Zealand trade is concerned, our success there was largely contingent on their continuing the suspension of these, heavy tariffs on our goods. Indeed, the time was now most opportune for the establishment of a system whereby 'British-produced goods and produce should have preference in British markets over goods from nations wh<? would not extend to our people the generous treatment they have so long enjoyed in trade with the British Empire.— (Applause.) What was the policy of America? What was the policy of Continental nations towards us ?t Why, America would not even permit British owned chips to carry British passengers and British goods over thousands of miles of the Pacific Ocean. Germany, not only by her heavy duties, but still more by her newlyimposed regulations, would not permit a> pound of our frozen meat to enter her territory, although we annually allow hundreds of thousands of pounds' worth of the goods of these, countries to enter our port* *-bE>okitely duty free. And the British or colonial Governments would never be able to makeequitable terms until they adopted a policy of reprisal. Germany could not do without her world-wide British trade, and were we to threaten retaliatory action, we would them obtain reasonable concessions for our produce. Referring again to the South African trade, shall it be said that although the co- , lonies have nobly L.pent their blood and treasure in retaining and extending British pos- - sessions in South Africa, that now, when the was is over, we are to be treated, in ques- > tions of trade, to terms no better than nationswhich -wo aid have expended their blood and . treasure" as willingly as we have clone, -but with the very 'different object of driving the British out of South Africa and deprivingtl'cm for ever of the chance of tracte there.'— (Applause.) This matter of free entry* of goods was a most important question for our colony, and lact session he had urged it in Parliament and obtained the assurance of the Premier that he would, at the earliest possible date open communication with the &oveininenta of the various dependencies of taa

Empire, and also with the Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, with a view of piomoting an Imperial Trade Zollverem. He advised them to carry a motion to that effect, also, which was done.