CUSTOMS TARIFF.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2116, 25 November 1920, Page 8

CUSTOMS TARIFF.

RELATIONS WITH AUSTRALIA. Press Association. WELLINGTON, November 25. The provision of better Customs tariff relations with Australia was the subject of discussion at the Conference of New Zealand Chambers of Commerce to-day. Mr J. T. Martin, on behalf of the Wellington chamber, moved that the Government be urged to enter into negotiations with the Commonwealth authorities, with the object of arranging a reciprocal Customs tariff between New Zealand and Australia. The mover of the motion said that the Customs basis of the Dominion's trade with Australia was not on a satisfactory footing. Last year, New Zealand imported from the Commonwealth goods to the value of £5,000,000, and exported to it £1,761,000 worth. It was a mistake that the Dominion's interests were not represented at the commission which had considered the" new Australian tariff. The duty had prevented New Zealand, this season, from sending 100,000 sacks of oats to Australia at 5/6 per bushel, and, as a result, prices here had gradually fallen to 4/6. But for the tariff being against New Zealand, the Dominion would have had an increased return of £30,000 from oats. The loss to this country, in the nonexport of oats and potatoes to Australia, amounted to £430,000 last year. Mr W. M. Tyers moved, as an amendment, the addition of the following words, "Provided that no arrangement should be made which discriminates against the manufactures of the United Kingdom." The amendment was accepted, and the motion, thus amended, was adopted. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Orchard (Canterbury), "That, in accordance with the representations of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, Australian wines be admitted into New Zealand, as regard Customs duty, on terms as favourable as those accorded to any other country, provided that New Zealand exports to Australia be admitted into Australia on as favourable terms as similar goods imported from Australia into New Zealand." The next conference was fixed for Christchurch.