Gypsum

High Duty On

N. Caledonia May Retaliate on Australian Trade

From Our Own Correspondent.

NOUMEA, December 6.

AT the session of the Council-General held on November 25, the question of the importation into New Caledonia of Australian gypsum for the Societe Caledon Nickel was discussed. In past years Aus tralia has had a crippling tariff on man ganese entering the Commonwealth from the French colony, and the Council is now advocating a reciprocal policy regarding gypsum.

New Caledonia is a good customer of Australia. According to latest available figures she bought, in 1933, goods (flour, butter, potatoes, gypsum, foodstuff, etc.) to the value of 17,902,000 francs, whereas Australia took only 576,000 francs of New Caledonian produce and minerals. Thus the balance of trade is much in favour of Australia, and is being adversely com mented upon locally.

Much might be done to create better trade relations between these two close neighbours if the facts were placed clearly before the Federal Parliament and care fully studied by them. Great Britain, for instance, entered into a trade agreement with New Caledonia some time ago, and. now many British goods (particularly foot wear) in spite of the additional freight costs, are cheaper in Noumea than those coming from Australia; similarly with American canned fruit, fish, etc.

When the agreement was first mooted, the short-sighted and judgmentless Aus tralian politicians refused to acquiesce to> it. thereby putting the Commonwealth out side all favourable trade relations.