SYDNEY AS IT IS

Otago Witness, Issue 3518, 16 August 1921, Page 38

SYDNEY AS IT IS

lION. E. P. LEE’S VISIT. (Fbom Qua Own Cohkcspondent.) WRE-LINGI ON, August 8. During iiis stay in Sydney the Hon. E. V. Lie v. as iibie to make many inquiries on matters connected with the Industries and Commerce Department, which is under his super vision. "From the inquiries and interviews I hail while iu Sydney, said Air Lee, ''there would appear to be a barrier existing between Australia and New Zealand in trade and many ©(her matters. By invitation I gave an address to the senior students of the Sydney University, where 1 was entertained at luncheon, and the incidental references made at that meeting to the relations between Australia and the dominion were very favourably commented upon by those taking a deep interest in the two countries. There is scope and need for close reciprocal relations in trade, Customs, pensions, and in other important directions, and I feel that negotiations between New Zealand and the Commonwealth should be opened up. ’ Alp Lee noted that the cost of many lines of goods in Australia is higher than ruling prices in New Zealand. This applied especially to wearing apparel. In some instances, however, the prices were about the same. Fruit, of which Australia produced a good deal, was dearer in Sydney than in Wellington. Some New Zealanders had in Sydney complained of tho price of cut pipe tobacco there. In tno dominion, they said, the very best pipe tobacco could be obtained at 8d or 9d per oz, whilst in Sydney there was only the one price for standard brands—ls per oz.