TRADE TALKS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20281, 16 April 1934, Page 4

TRADE TALKS.

N.Z. Delegation May Go to Australia. IMPORTANT SUBJECTS. According to Melbourne papers to hand to-day it is expected that a Ministerial delegation from New Zealand will visit Australia this year, probably before the arrival of Prince George, to discuss important subjects with the Government. These are:— 1. Competition of American subsidised shipping in British Pacific ports with British and Dominion lines. 2. Marketing in the United Kingdom of products exports by both countries. 3. New Zealand embargoes on Australian fresh fruit, vegetables and citrus fruits, with the exception of oranges from South Australia, imposed because of the alleged prevalence in other States of fruit fly. 4. The quarantine embargo imposed by Australia on New Zealand potatoes, because of the alleged prevalence of corky scab, and on onions. Following the visit to New Zealand of the Minister for Commerce (Mr Stewart) this year, a return invitation for a New Zealand Minister to visit Australia was issued by the Prime Minister. Mr Stewart’s visit, although helpful, did not finally clear up the embargo position, although it paved the way for a settlement (says the Melbourne “ Herald ”). “ Unfair Competition.” Competition by American subsidised ships engaged in the Australia-New Zealand*San Francisco run with British and Dominion ships is regarded as unfair and injurious in New Zealand, and there is a strong feeling there that legislation should be passed making American ships in British Pacific ports subject to the same restrictions imposed by America on British ships in American ports. The question has an important international aspect because of the possibility of retaliatory action by America which might have serious effects upon British shipping in the Atlantic. The crisis about the marketing of primary products which has arisen in England, following upon the Elliot policy of developing home agricultural industries, has raised questions of interest both to New Zealand and Australia, because these two Dominions ship practically the same commodities to Britain. Their interests are not entirely iden.V„ ° n „ many points, adds the i Herald, and the adoption of a common policy on marketing questions is extremely unlikely.