Melbourne, Nov. 10.
Two new trade treaties between Australia and Belgium and Czechoslovakia respectively were submitted the Federal Parliament for approval on October 30, and are expected to come into operation by the end of the year, In explaining the alms of the new treaties, the Minister for Trade Treaties, Sir Henry Gullett, also announced that a trade agreement had' been conclud~ ed with South Africa. These agreements, Sir Henry declared, were designed to expand the oversea consumption of Australian primary. produce, without which rural industry would stagnate. At the same time, they provide for a" substantial increase in Australian imports from countries with which the balance of trade has long been excessively in favour of Australia.
For that reason the negotiations culminating in the present agree ments have been long and dim cult, and the Minister has-been severely criticised by the Opposition for the delay, - The conclusion - of satisfactory agreements should consequently do much to enhance the Government's prestige, and strengthen {ts hand in dealing with the protracted trade dispute with Japan, in which an acceptable basis of negotintion has still to be found.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.