BRITISH REBUFF.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20361, 19 July 1934, Page 1

BRITISH REBUFF.

No Concession for New Zealand. REPLY TO TARIFF CHANGES. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received Julv 19, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 18. In the House of Commons replying to Mr Geoffrey Mander's question whether in view of New Zealand’s tariff reductions the Government would take the opportunity of arranging a free exchange of commodities. Mr J. 11. Thomas, Dominions Secretary, said that the Government very much appreciated New Zealand’s spirit of co-opera-tion, but it did not feel that the general considerations he had outlined in the House on May 7 were affected by these changes.

In the House of Commons on May i 7 Mr Thomas said that if New Zealand made an actual offer of free trade Britain would then be forced to demand the same treatment from Australia or treat Australian goods differently from New Zealand goods. How could Britain give one Dominion preference over another in the same commodity. He had received abundant evidence of appreciation by the Dominions of the way Britain was conducting her side of the Ottawa Agreement. Referring specially to New Zealand, Mr Thomas said that a number of people had urged upon their Government that if all tariffs were removed Britain could take everything New Zealand cared to send. lie pointed out that 25 per cent of New Zealand’s revenue was from tariffs, and said that it was impossible to reconcile a position where one Dominion would be given preference against another in the same commodity.