THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1932. TRADE WITH AUSTRALIA.

Wairarapa Age, 19 December 1932, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1932. TRADE WITH AUSTRALIA.

A somewhat serious turn bus been given to the position arising out of the imposition of an embargo on the importation of Australian fruit and vegetables into this country. It is stated in Canberra, according to a Sydney cablegram, that tho Commonwealth cannot afford to lose trade worth £200,000 annually, the amount involved, and that “it is stated officially that if Now Zealand remains adamant, the Federal Cabinet will have to consider whether other action is open to it to regain tho position. It is admitted that the step taken by tho Dominion has created n delicate situation, one which might easily lead to moves and counter-moves of a kind tho very reverse of those contemplated by tho Ottawa Agreements.’’ It must bo hoped that these anticipations run well ahead of any intentions yet actually formed by the Federal Government. There is no doubt that Australia and New Zealand could do each other an immense amount of harm by engaging in a trade war, but good neighbourly feeling and common sense ought to safeguard them amply against any folly of the kind. New Zealand seems to be perfectly justified in imposing the embargo and in maintaining it so long as our fruit is excluded from Australia on tho ground that there is flrcblight in this country. It must count for a great deal that while Australia is merely guarding herself against a possible and apparently rather remote danger of tho introduction of flreblight, Now Zealand, by admitting fruit from the Commonwealth (which is infected with tho Mediterranean fruit fly), is debarred from exporting fruit to tho United States. Australia, rather obviously, is seeking to have it both ways. Every effort should bo made to bring about an adjustment satisfactory to both

Dominions, but there must be ft spirit of reason and fair play on both sides if these efforts are to succeed. It has a bearing on the position that Australia is at a considerable advantage in her trans-Tasman trade. In 1930, her exports to this country exceeded her im- 1 ports from it more than twice over. ACTING WITH CONGRESS. In an otherwise rather obscure and uncertain situation, it is satisfactory that the direct participation of Congressional representatives appears to be assured in any approach made in the United 'States to a revision of European war debts. The whole course of world events might have been changed for the bettor had representatives of Congress been allowed to participate in the negotiation of tho Treaty of Ver sailles and the Covenant of the League of Nations. Taking an actual part in tho negotiations, the very men who eventually refused to ratify President Woodrow Wilson’s work ns a negotiator might have hesitated to withhold the aid and support that might so easily have been given to a stable world settlement. At worst the world would have boon saved from indulging in false hopes. At the moment it is uncertain whether President Hoover will ho able to open the way to a revision of war debts, or whether he must leave the task to be undertaken by his successor, Mr. Franklin "Roosevelt, when the latter assumes office in March next. Tn any case, it seems clear that. Mr. Hoover and Mr. Roosevelt arc both determined to avoid the disastrous tactical error that was made by President Wilson when he elected to hold aloof from Congress in negotiating tho settlement of the Great War.