copies of notes exchanged between the right honorable j. g. coates, p.c., new zealand minister of finance and customs, and senator the honorable sir waiter massy greene, k.c.m.g., leader, australian trade delegation to new zealand.
[Copy.]
Dominion of New Zealand,
Minister’s Office, Customs Department,
Wellington, 6th April, 1933.
Diversion of New Zealand’s Import Trade from the United Kingdom to Australia.
The matter of the diversion of New Zealand’s import trade from the United Kingdom to Australia having been discussed between representatives of His Majesty’s Government in Australia and His Majesty’s Government in New Zealand, an agreement has been arrived at the terms of which are, for purposes of record, set out below.
(Signed) W. MASSY-GREENE,
Leader. Australian Trade Delegation to New Zealand.
(Signed) J. G. COATES.
Minister of Finance and Customs.
Terms of Agreement as to Diversion, of New Zealand’s Import Trade from the United Kingdom to Australia.
(1) If at any time after the 30th day of September, 1933, His Majesty’s Government in New Zealand is satisfied in respect of any specific class or specific classes of goods, or in respect of goods comprised in any Tariff item that, since the 31st day of March, 1933, there has been a substantial diversion of New Zealand’s import trade from the United Kingdom to Australia, the fact of such diversion may be made the subject matter of an official communication from His Majesty’s Government in New Zealand to His Majesty’s Government in Australia. Both Governments undertake that they will then endeavour to devise a satisfactory method of checking such diversion,
The Second Schedule—continued.
either by means of the regulation of trade in the goods affected, or by such other means as may be mutually acceptable. If no such method is adopted within a reasonable time, being not less than in any case two months, the New Zealand Government may adopt such means as it thinks proper to prevent any further diversion of its trade in such goods from the United Kingdom. Where action is taken by means of the regulation of trade, such action shall not be designed to reduce the volume of trade between Australia and New Zealand as at the 31st day of March. 1933.
2. A substantial diversion of New Zealand’s import trade from the United Kingdom to Australia shall, for the purposes of this arrangement, be deemed to have taken place in respect of any goods only if satisfactory evidence is produced of a substantial decline in any period in the value of such goods imported into New Zealand from the United Kingdom and of a substantial increase during the same period in the value of such goods imported into New Zealand from Australia. The basis of comparison of the value of the trade between New Zealand and the United Kingdom and New Zealand and Australia shall be the figures of the trade between the respective countries for the year 1st of April 1932 to 31st March 1933.
Schedule Sch Second - Customs Tariff (New Zealand Preference) Agreement Act 1933 | Zoe
(Intd.) W.M.G.
J.G.C.
[Copy.]
Midland Hotel,
Wellington. New Zealand,
Australian Trade Delegation,
6th April 1933.
The Rt. Hon. j. G. Coates, P.C., M.C.,
Wellington.
MY dear Minister,
In consideration of the imposition of a duty of one penny per lb. upon the importation into New Zealand of foreign sultanas and lexias, such duty being designed and intended to secure the whole of the market to fruit of this class from Empire sources, I hereby give on behalf of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia an undertaking to your Government in the following terms:—
(1) That the Australian industry would not in any way or at any time take advantage of the existence of the duty now suggested against foreign goods of this class and whether or not such duty be increased above the rate now proposed. In particular the Australian industry would not either directly or indirectly as a result of the imposition of the suggested duty at any time increase the prices at which supplies of these goods would be offered or sold to New Zealand purchasers.
(2) That it would be clearly understood that the Government of New Zealand has the right to remove at any time the duty upon foreign fruit of this class if it appears to the Government of New Zealand that the undertaking is not being adhered to, and further that the decision of the New Zealand Government in this matter would be accepted as final and conclusive.
(3) That it would be further understood that the Australian Government would not expect the duty to be maintained against foreign supplies of these goods if the Australian industry is at any time unable or refuses to supply or refrains from supplying all the reasonable requirements of New Zealand.
(4) That the Australian Government would not expect the duty to be maintained against these foreign goods if the industry ceases to possess or to exercise through the Commonwealth Dried Fruits Export Control Board the statutory power now conferred upon it by the Government of the Commonwealth to regulate the prices at which these goods are sold.
(5) That the Australian Government would agree that in the consideration of the foregoing conditions the New Zealand Government might have regard to all and any circumstances which in the opinion of the Government of New Zealand have at any time a bearing upon the matter of the prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which supplies of these goods are or may reasonably be purchased by importers in New Zealand.
It is asked that in the event of the New Zealand Government contemplating action to terminate the foregoing suggested arrangement due notice would be given to the Government of the Commonwealth in order that reasonable opportunities should be available to the Government of the Commonwealth to make representations and to offer information for consideration by the Government of New Zealand before definite action is adopted.
The Second Schedule—continued.
The Government of the Commonwealth of Australia would undertake that it would with the utmost possible promptitude deal with any such matter and make without delay such representations as it desired in order that the final decision of the New Zealand Government might be adopted without undue delay.
I shall be glad to learn on behalf of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia whether the Government of New Zealand would concur in the arrangement above set out.
(Signed) W. MASSY GREENE,
Leader, Australian Trade Delegation to New Zealand.
[Copy.]
Dominion of New Zealand,
Minister’s Office, Customs Department,
Wellington, 6th April, 1933.
Senator the Hon. W. Massy Greene,
Wellington.
My dear Senator,
This is to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of to-day’s date in which you refer to the importation into New Zealand of sultanas and lexias, and to the undertaking given by the Commonwealth Government in consideration of our imposing a duty of one penny per lb. on foreign imports of these goods. I have to advise you that the New Zealand Government concurs in the arrangement set out in your letter.
Yours truly,
(Signed) J. G. COATES.
[Copy.]
Office of the Minister of Customs,
Wellington, New Zealand, 6th April, 1933.
This is a memorandum to confirm the arrangement agreed upon with respect to the duty of one penny per pound on raisins of foreign origin as set out in Schedule B. to the Agreement initialled to-day on behalf of His Majesty’s Government in Australia and His Majesty’s Government in New Zealand.
It is understood that with respect to seeded raisins the duty will he maintained for a period of at least twelve months and that New Zealand may then remove it without further notice if the New Zealand Government are not satisfied that the seeded raisins supplied by Australia for consumption in Now Zealand meet the reasonable requirements of the New Zealand market.
(Signed) W. MASSY GREENE,
Leader of the Australian Trade Delegation.
(Signed) J. G. COATES,
Minister of Finance and Customs, New Zealand.
[Copy.]
Dominion of New Zealand,
Minister’s Office, Customs Department,
Wellington, 6th April, 1933.
Senator the Hon. W. Massy Greene,
Wellington,
My dear Senator,
Dried Tree-fruits.
Following on our discussions with reference to the rate of customs duty to be levied on the importation into New Zealand of dried tree-fruits from Australia, I have on behalf of the Government of New Zealand to inform you that the Government undertake that, in the event of the Tariff Agreement of to-day’s date being duly approved by the Parliaments of Australia and New Zealand and brought into force, they will take steps to ensure that such dried fruits, being the produce of Australia and imported into New Zealand on or after the 1st January, 1934, will be admitted into New Zealand at a rate of duty not exceeding the rate lexied on similar fruit being the produce of any other country.