NEW TRADE TREATY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16706, 25 July 1928, Page 4

NEW TRADE TREATY

JAPAN AND NEW ZEALAND DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. In the House to-night the Minister o Finance laid on the table the Note 01 negotiations for a trade treaty he.weei Japan and New Zealand. He said tin chief benefit arising from the trading ar rangement would be the reduction o the Japanese duty on New Zealand hut ter by id per lb. The Leader of .the Opposition askec what, if any, reciprocal concessions ha< been made to Japan. Messrs. CL W. Forbes and K. P. Le complained that members were no afforded information regarding sue! papers before they were brought down The latter asked what statutory authority the Minister had to enter into such at rangement. Mr. J. A. Leo said it was extremely unwise to tmst an irresponsible Ministry with too much bargaining power. Members now could not have over-much confidence in “ (bates and confidence. If bargains were to be made, the House should make them. Mr. A. Harris expressed anxiety as to what terms might have been made with Japan. If any preference were t-o be given, it should be given to European nations. Mr. W. A. Veitch wanted to know whether New Zealand or Japan had the better of the bargain. There were many reasons why New Zealand should treat Japan generously. The Minister of Customs, replying, said this now arrangement had been made so as to obtain more favorable terms for New Zealand butter. He had been approached by Waikato dairymen and others, and asked to endeavor to obtain terms as favorable as those enjoyed by Canada. The result of the negotiations was that New Zealand was now in a better position than Australia, and some Australian newspapers had been reproaching themselves for allowing New Zealand to get ahead of Australia in such an important matter. Japan already enjoyed the advantages we extended‘to favored nations, and there were no special provisions for further reciprocal advantages, although

Japan would automatically share in anything further that might he allowed favored, nations. The whole object of the arrangement was to improve the position of our butter exporters.