TRADE WITH AUSTRALIA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18584, 19 December 1934, Page 10

TRADE WITH AUSTRALIA

FAILURE OF CONFERENCE MINISTERS’ RETURN DISAPPOINTING VISIT (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. Disappointment that their trade negotiations with the Australian Government had not proved successful was expressed by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates and the Hon. It. Alasters on their return to Wellington from Sydney by the Wanganclla this evening. The discussions are to be reopened in March next, when two Commonwealth Ministers will visit the Dominion. “Rightly, or wrongly,” Air Coates said, “New Zealand 1 holds the view that the Australia-New Zealand agreement as it stands is unsatisfactory to the Dominion. While the discussions were frank and to the point, yet all present felt that, as far as practicable, the interests ,of both Dominions, as well as of the British Empire, must be closely kept in mind. The point was reached where it, was agreed that postponement would best suit the immediate interests of both countries. “It is a matter of regret and disappointment to us that the trade negotiations with the Commonwealth were not successful, and I am sure that this feeling is generally shared' by the public of both Australia and New Zealand,.” said Air. Masters. “It will bo recognised that no agreement can be lasting unless it is satisfactory to both parties. “New Zealand made a request for the extension of trade in certain directions and also laid down conditions for such extension, more particularly in regard to primary products, but Australia was not, at the moment, in a position to accede to Hup requests made. Australia, on the other hand, made proposals which called for very ojose consideration before New Zealand could accede to them. In view of these facts, therefore, perhaps in the period between the conference at Canberra and the conference to be held in New Zealand in Alarch, it will be possible to reach an agreement on the points which were under discussion.” • Air. Afastcrs added: “Owing to Australia’s greater diversity of industry, the balance of trade has always been, and probably will remain, in favor of Australia. New Zealand has never expected or asked tor an equal balance, but she is perfectly justified is asking that there should be a closer approximation of the balance between the two countries.”

AUSTRALIA CRITICISED AN UNFAIR ATTITUDE “ROBBING- BRITAIN” Supporting a proposal made by Ah'. A. C. Cameron, at a meeting of the council of the Dunedin Chamber ,oi Commerce, that the Government -should be asked for a definite statement .with respect to the trade position between New Zealand and Australia, Air. A. H. Allen indulged in a candid expression of his views as to what the attitude of New Zealand should be. In introducing the subject Air. Cameron stated that members would have noticed from cable messages published in the newspapers that the mission of the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Industries and Commerce on their visit to Australia had proved ineffective. “Everybody seems to be in the dark as to the position immediately prior to their visit,’’ he said, “and it is desirable that we should know immediately after their return what has been done. Mr. Allen stated that it must be borne in mind that Australia had been steadily robbing Britain of'her market in New Zealand for many commodities which she had formerly supplied. “Australia seems to have us in the palm of her hand,” he added. ‘-‘So long as she chooses to keep the rate of exchange on London at 25 per cent., New Zealand is bound to adhere to that, exchange. If we dropped the rate, to 15 per cent., that would give Australia an additional advantage of 10 per cent, in selling goods to the Dominion. We all know that the prosperity of this Dominion depends very largely- upon the Mother Country buying more of our commodities and paying higher prices for them. So long as we continue to buy from Australia and to rob the Old Country of her market for goods which she previously supplied, how can we aspect her to buy more from us? “The position is serious, .and we should back up the Government as fains we can in resisting the encroachment that the Australian producer is making on these markets. We should let the Government know that it should not yield to Australia until that country cloes something for us. Whereas Australia is able to buy potatoes from us at from £2 10s to £4 a ton, the people of the Commonwealth are paying Trom £lB to £2O a ton. They say our potatoes are diseased. They are not diseased. It is a purely political move, and so long as that continues New Zealand should keep a stiff back and refuse to do business with Australia.’’ Mr. Cameron said that if the chamber had fall information on the subject il could discuss the matter reasonably. At present it was in the dark. Tt was decided to ask the Government, rtirough the associated chambers, for a statement of the position.

H. Ilankey, str., C. Davy, D. Wilson, and L. Cowan beat. S. Bruce, str., F. Aitehison, T. Williams, and G. Montgomery. With a good start Hankey went into the lead early, establishing a clear-water advantage. Bruie was unable to overtake his opponent, although he improved his position in the latter stages, and Hankey won by a length. The semi-final in both series will be rowed this evening, while the crews contesting the finals will race on Friday night.