RECIPROCAL TRADE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 829, 1 August 1933, Page 7

RECIPROCAL TRADE.

Business Between Empire Countries. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, August 1 j The Auckland sittings of the Tariff Commission opened to-day. After the chairman. Dr Craig, had made a general statement of the objects of’ the investigation, evidence was called. Norman Hetath, representing tho United Steel Companies, Ltd., of Sheffield, asked that United Kingdom steel bars, etc., continue to be admitted duty free, that foreign duty remain at 20 per cent, and that a duty be placed on the products of those Empire countries which did not admit New Zealand produce free. He also urged the Commission to consider the question of dumping. lie said that Australian steel materials were being sold in New Zealand at under Australian prices. Mr Heath said there should be reciprocal trade between Empire countries. If one country bought £5,000,000 worth of goods from New Zealand, New Zealand should buy £5,000,000 worth from it.

Professor Murphy: What if only £599,999 were purchased? I raise that absurd point to show that you cannot put trade into channels like that. It would be a practical impossibility. Mr Heath agreed that machinery to bring it about would be difficult to devise. lie suggested that the duty on Australian steel should not be less than on foreign steel. Mr Gow: Your general argument is that Empire countries that refuse free admission to our products should not have the same favourable treatment as Great Britain, which gives us free entry. Mr Heath: Yes.

Mr H. Leighton Hill, representing Whitehouse and Sons, Ltd., asked for the free admission of British slashers, billhooks and hedge knives. He contended that the New Zealand slasher industry was small and the uneconomic existing duties had incretased the cost of slashers by Is 6d to Is 9d each, and the exchange rate by Is 10d to 2s. In reply to Professor Murphy, witness said that British firms were in active competition with each other.