The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-07-07
RECIPROCITY WITH ]. $.
 NOT AN EASY MATTER
NEW ZEALAND PREMIER,S
 OPINION AFTER VISITING ROOSEVELT.

His Country Ready to Make UnfversaI
 Reduction of Ten Per Cent. fin Her
 TaTfR to the United States in Return
 for Like ConcessiOn-Nearest Enxtish
 Speaking NeighbOr With Exception of
 Australia.
 Oyster Bay, July 6.When Sir Joseph Ward, new premier of New Zealand. stepped from the train at Oyster Bay to-day to keep a luncheons engagement with President Roosevelt he frankly said the thing nearest his heart in America was the development of rec- iprocity sentiment between New Zeal and and the United States. When Sir Joseph returned to the station two hours later, having fulfilled his lunch con engagement, he remarked, ''Reci- procity is not an easy thing to bring about in this country"
 Sir Joseph, adhering to rules he has laid down for himself in his journey around the world, declined to discuss the exchange of ideas between himseaf and President Roosevelt
 My hearty belief in your president as a statesman of strength, breadth ana courage" he said, has been most pleas- antly and alphabetically confirmed" l From his frank statement, on arriv- ing at Oyster Bay, that he intended discussing the possibility of reciprocity with the president, his later comments on that subject are interesting, as fndt- eating the busnesslike plan he pro- posed
 New Zealand" he said. lis ready to make universal 10 per cent. reduction in her tariff to the United States in re- turn for like concession. She now grants this reduction to Great Britain and would be glad to do so to the Unit ed States.
 If this is too broad a proposition we would be glad to make this reduction on specific articles which each nation buys abroad. For instance, New Zeal and wool finds a market in the United States, although it is purchased through England. Then, we dig gum from the ground which America purchases in large quantities for the manufacture of varnish, and there are many other things in which there is no competition.
 What we want from America is cer- tain grades of pine lumber, timed saf- mon and many kinds of manufactured goods, We buy all of our roll-top desks from you. We buy of America from $S00,0OO to $1,00O,0O0 annually
 There would be some opposition in New Zealand to reducing our tariff on lumber, but our people build their own homes and prefer wooden houses, and. while we have a timber country, we need your pine.
 But" added Sir Joseph, after pause, you have special interest in this country, too"
 The New Zealand premier here ad- mitted he knew of the number of reel procity treaties now awaiting action at the hands of the United States senate.
 New Zealand' he continued, is 0 country capable of maintaining popu- lation of from twenty to forty million. You are building the Panama canal and Iare our nearest English speaking neigh bor, excepting Australia. Our trade is growing, our interests are identical It would seem wise statesmanship to culti- vate our relations along the commercial line, and we are willing"
 As an indication of the keen desire on the part of New Zealand to keep in touch with the United States commer- 2 oially, Sir Joseph said his government had for number of years been paying an annual subsidy of $100O00 to the Spreckels steamship lines to touch there every three weeks, This subsidy is granted under three-year contracts, al
 which times the appropriations are
 made. Difficulty is always experienced in getting this appropriation, and as the parliament now in session renews this : contract, Sir Joseph is anxious to get
 home.
 He will sail from San Francisco or the Sierra July 12. He leaves New Yorl : for Washington tonight, where he has morning engagement with Postmas- General Cortelyou.