Manawatu Evening Standard. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 27, 1932. TRADE WITH CANADA.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 48, 27 January 1932, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 27, 1932. TRADE WITH CANADA.

On his return from Honolulu, this week, the Minister for Customs (Hon. W. Downie Stewart) had very little to say of an informative nature in regard to his mission to arrange a trade treatj with the ' Canadian Minister for Customs. Thevwelcome, hews that a “mutually satisfactory agreement” had been negotiated came from Honolulu shortly after the New Year, and was hailed with delight as ending the unfortunate quarrel between the two Dominions. The agreement is to be ratified by the Parliaments concerned, and its contents will be unknown until its simultaneous submission at Ottawa and at Wellington. The conclusion of the treaty was the first major step; its. ratification is the second- and the final one before the free flow of commerce between Canada and New Zealand again commences. Mr Stevens’s return to Ottawa synchronised with Mr Stew-art’s tb New Zealand, and his Cabinet, it is reported, will give early consideration to the agreement. The Parliament of each Dominion wall also be meeting very shortly, so that ratification should not be delayed a minute longer than is necessary. The opinion has been expressed that as New Zealand imposed its present tariff duties on Canadian goods by Order-in-Council, they should be at once removed by the same procedure to give a stimulus to trade between the two countries, and as an earnest of New Zealand’s goodwill in the matter.. This point has been brought before Mr Stewart whose reply.is that a clause in the Customs Amendment Act provides that an Order-in-Council to gitfe effect to an agreement or arrangement with another country shall have “no effect or operation until the agreement or arrangement has been ratified by Parliament.” This is held to be a barrier to removing the ebibargo on Canadian goods by the method adopted when imposing it. Mr Stewart seems to sound a note of caution in regard to the amount of trade New Zealand will enjoy with Canada now that the agreement has been concluded. No bargain with the sister Dominion, he emphasises, can hope to “produce anything like balanced trade,” owing to Canada’s wide range of exports and the restricted number from New Zealand -which are sought by Canada. In this connection Australia was more fortunate as its former Minister of Markets obtained concessions on dried and preserved fruit, oranges, and other lines which New Zealand does not produce - for export. It was in Ocober, 1925, that the benefits of the former AustralianCanadian trade ■ treaty were extended by Canada to this Dominion. In that year the balance of trade favoured Canada by a. little more than £3,500,000. .Thereafter it Was reduced as considerable exgortß of our.butter were made to anada, but in 1929, the last full calendar year in which trade was carried on ' under the preferences then existing, the balance was

against New Zealand to the extent of nearly,; £1,500,000. It will be satisfactory, indeed, if this Dominion is again able to market its butter in Canada, but the possibility of reaching the former level of exports does not seem bright, at least not in the immediate future. Mr Stewart adds a ■ word of advice to this country’s exporters to follow pp the advantages of the new treaty by grasping the opportunities presented. Australia, it will be remembered, sent a goodwill ship to Canada after ratifying their commercial agreement. It was first hand evidence of the Commonwealth’s exports. That procedure, may not be possible in this Dominion, but other and suitable action to advance the sales of exportable goods which Canada desires should be taken. The Canadian Trade Commissioner in New Zealand, Mr Croft, speaks in similar vein to Mr Stewart. Canada, he believes, will prove to be a valuable customer of New Zealand. Everyone hopes that he will be correct. No time should be lost in bringing the treaty before the two Parliaments.