RECIPROCITY WITH AUSTRALIA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3704, 13 December 1912, Page 5

RECIPROCITY WITH AUSTRALIA.

THE CHRISTCHURCH CONFERENCE.

INTERESTING RECOMMENDATIONS.

[PEESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM) CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 12. A conference of delegates of the South Island Chambers of Commerce and Grain, Seed, and Produce Merchants’ Associations to discuss the question of reciprocal trade benefits between Australia- and New Zealand opened this morning, in the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Henry Wood was chairman, and lie ruled that the decisions of the conference were for reportonly to the Chambers concerned, and not, at the present stage, to the Government. Motions were unanimously agreed to: — That any complete or general measure of free trade between Australia and New Zealand is undesirable, and would not prove acceptable to either country. That, nevertheless, in regard to products of the soil, it- is desirable to adopt a policy of reciprocity on a basis that any duties. agreed on or imposed shall be such as to impose similar conditions and confer equal advantages to each country, and shall he sufficiently low so as not to press hardly on consumer in time of scarcity m either country. That- it shall be a condition precedent to the adoption of any tariff that subject to reasonable Government inspection at the port cf shipment Customs restrictions at the port of entry shall be such as will not cause an unnecessary restraint of trade. Recommendations agreed upon in regard to tariff alteration were as follows :—.

Regarding the duty on flour, which the conference first deckled should be 30s per ton, and subsequently altered to the present rate of 20s, it was resolved

“That in connection with the proposed flour duty provisions bo made (1) that the present conditions in the -New Zealand act providing for a combination in restraint of trade be upheld subject to further provision that the Governor-in-Council shall retain the right to increase the duty payable if it is proved that Australia is making a dumping ground of New Zealand.

It was decided to recommend that when tariff was discussed Chambers should be asked to apoint an expert to confer with the New Zealand minister in a consulative capacity.

Present ProDuties pos ed N.Z. Au Tariff a. d. S. d. s. d. Wheat (per cental) ... 0 9 1 6 0 9 Oats (per cental) 0 9 1 6 0 6 Beans (per cental) 0 9 1 6 0 9 Peas (per cental) 0 9 1 6 0 9 Maize (per cental) 0 9 1 6 0 9 Barley (per cental) ... 2 0 2 0 1 0 Potatoes (per ton) 20 0 20 0 10 0 Chaff (per ton) 20 0 20 0 10 0 Onions (per ton) 20 0' 20 0 10 0 Flour (per cental) 1 10 2 6 2 0 Mill offals (per cental) 0 10 1 0 *2 0 Split Peas (per cwt.) 2 0 4 8 *2 0 Pearl barley (per cwt.) 1 0 4 8 2 0 Malt (per cental) 5 0 6 0 2 0 Linseed (per cental)... free 2 0 free Hay (per cwt.) 0 10 1 0 free Oatmeal (per ton) ... 20 0 83 4 20 0 * Per Ton.