TRADE WITH AUSTRALIA

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1930, Page 2

TRADE WITH AUSTRALIA

REVISION OF AGREEMENT. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. Tariff questions affecting Australia and New Zealand will probably be the subject of conversations between the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. FOrbCs, and the Australian authorities, when Mr. Fcrbes reaches Gydney on. his retail! ffoffi. the Imperial Conference. Since the tariff agreement between the two countries in 1922, Australian exports to New Zealand have fallen from £6,272,000 to £2,824,000, according to a recent statement by Mr. Frank Forde, assistant Federal Minister Of Customs. In spite of the fact, however, that Mr. Forde expressed concern at this state of affairs; Australia enjoyed a balaflCe if! her favour of £1,484,198 in her trade with New Zealand fof the fitat nine months of this year, compared With a balance of £i,293;215 for the Whole Of 1929. ' . ' It Was stated by ’Mr. Forde at the o ifening of the New Zealand Offices in Sydney, that New Zealand exported £2;197.000 worth of goods to Australia in 1922, arid that in 1927 the. Dominion exports to the Commonwealth Were valued at £3,306,000. Last year, he "said; they .were valued at £2,203,000. Usiftg. these figures, as an argument,, Mr. Forde said it Was obvious that a. revision of the agreement was desirable. Reference to Mr. Forde’s. statement Was made by, the acting-Mmister of Customs,' Hori. J; G. Cobbe. Mr. Cobbe said the figures quoted were apparently for the Australian statistical year, which ends in June,, aftd which Cuilld not therefore be reconciled Jvith those published in the NeW Zealand statis--61 Figures supplied by Mr. Cobbe from the NeW Zealand -statistical records showed that in 1922 Australia had a favourable trade balance with New-Zea-land Of or rougldy £7OO 000 greater than that of 1029. By 1924 Au tralia’s farbiinfole balanto had risen to £3;703;0d0, but in 1927 it had fallefi tb £508,213. ‘ .... There Was stated to be an opinion m Australia that there/was room for the development of a .further market in New Zealand in dried vine fruits, nee and .Wines. The Commonwealth aUthofities also considered that New eala J ld should extend Australia an folded measure of preference. Mr. Cobbe said it was efcpfected taat negotiations would shortly take I J l acs between the two Governffieiite with, a view to revising the existing tariff agi eminent between the cdiintries. No dOlibt the question'of admitting tlidsfe commodities iiitd New Zealand would be the subject of consideration. Beyond this the Minister was not prepared .to gd, ettllouffii it is understood Uikt the Whole tariff question is ,teceivihg the earnest consideration of the New Zealand Government., . ? - ■