SHORT OF MARK.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 731, 7 April 1933, Page 4

SHORT OF MARK.

Trade Agreement With Australia. .MANY DIFFICULTIES UNSOLVED. (Special to the " Star.”) WELLINGTON, April 6. Although the negotiators in the Aus--1 tralian-New • Zealand trade treaty have worked harmoniously and have re- ’ | ferred to the possibility of an agree- ’ ment of mutual benefit, the results of 1 ! their efforts are below expecta--1 i tions. It has been difficult to ’ ! reach an agreement on several important points and a few days ago it ' was reported that there was a possibil--1 ity of making public on both sides of ' the Tasman what was mutually accept- ; able and the problems which, despite long and friendly negotiations, remain- | ed unsolved. Dangers from Disease. Factors have entered into the discussions which have been incapable of settlement by negotiation, these being ■ the risks run through the entry of ? j agricultural products carrying disease 1 into the respective countries. New * Zealand appears to fear the Mediterranean fruit fly. Australia is concerned over fireblight in respect of Do--1 minion fruit and also the various diseases which have already barred New Zealand potatoes from the high price market—New South Wales. The Dominion’s potato export tq Australia was 258 tons in 1929, only 76 tons in ’ 1930, while m the last two years only ! 3 tons were admitted. There are bet- , ter chances for onions, though the Aus- ! tralian demand is highly variable, j Expressions of opinion published in ! Australia during the negotiations show I that Senator Greene has a difficulty in making concessions of value to New Zealand growers, which would lead to 1 the raising of the New Zealand embargo on Commonwealth citrus fruit. 1 Last year New Zealand imported 1 citrus fruit from Australia to a value ol' £121,000. Stay Extended. New Zealand, which, in five years, has shown an adverse balance of £5,269,000 on trading with the Commonwealth, has been in an advantageous position for bargaining, but the negotiators, despite the utmost goodwill, found it so extreme!} 7 difficult to make agreements of substantial mutual advantage that the Australian delegation was obliged to prolonged its I stay this week. The negotiations between the representatives of the New Zealand and Australian Governments have not actually concluded. Unless finality is reached Mr Coates is going north on the special train to complete the negotiation of details before reaching Auckland. Senator Greene and the members of his party are to leave for Auckland by a special train at 1 a.m. Ihe train will arrive at Auckland in time to connect with the Monowai. The outcome of the conference, it is understood, will be a complete overhaul of the existing trade agreement which has been amended to conform more closely with changed conditions.