THE OVERSEAS DOMINIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3765, 26 February 1913, Page 5

THE OVERSEAS DOMINIONS.

MORE CORDIAL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS DESIRED. THE FORTHCOMING AUSTRALIAN CONFERENCES. MR. FISHER INTERVIEWED.

[PBESS ASSOCIATION TELBGBAK.J AUCKLAND, Feb. 25. Negotiations towards more cordial commercial relations among the overseas dominions have been proceeding by correspondence for some months. They will be tire subject of two important conferences in Melbourne next month, which will be attended by representatives of Canada, Australia, - and New Zealand. Inter-trade relations have been discussed among these three countries and also South Africa. It was hoped that the Union Government would be represented at the forthcoming conference, but apparently the political crisis windh has arisen owing to the sharp differences between General Hertzog and General Botha has made it difficult for any members of the Union Government to visit Australia/ The delegates to the conference -will be Hon. G. E. Foster (Minister for Trade and Customs in the Canadian Government), Hon. Andrew Fisher (Prime Minister of Australia), and HonSF. M. B. Fisher (Minister for Customs in the New Zealand Government). Mr. Fisher will leave N.Z. for Melbourne on March 24. One conference will he between Australia and New Zealand. Its purpose is primarily to achieve trade reciprocity' between the two countries Ques- . tions regarding the pensions systems of Australia and New Zealand will also be discussed, with a view to effecting some reciprocal arrangement. Discussing the larger conference today, Mr. Fisher said tliat it had been arranged at the suggestion of the New Zealand Government. It was unfortunate that no representative of South Africa would be present, bat the four Governments had all expressed hopes that the conference would be successful in drawing the overseas dominions into a closer trade relationship. Questions relating to the tariffs of the four countries and interchange of goods would be the principal matters for consideration. “There is one important matter which I hope will be discussed,” said Mr. Fisher. “That is the fact that great difficulty is experienced by many -New Zealand shippers in obtaining space in vessels of the Vancouver service. The Union Steamship Company at present holds the key of the position. For a long time the New Zealand Government has been subsidising the service, but the bulk of the cargo space has been filled with Australian produce, though the Commonwealth Government makes no contribution towards the maintenance of the service. I think it is about time we t-ook care in New Zealand that while our subsidy is continued a fair share of the available space should be secured for New Zealand shipments. Without regular access to space it is practically impossible to build up permanent trade between the two dominions.”