CANADIAN PURCHASES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 152, 11 April 1929, Page 5

CANADIAN PURCHASES

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCTS.

DESIRE FOR MORE TRADE.

THE PROBLEM OF MARKETING

(United Press Association Copyright). (Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) VANCOUVER, April 10.

The earnest desire of Canadian business men, especially those in British Columbia, to import more commodities from Australia and New Zealand, was emphasised by Mr W. C. Woodward (president of, the Vancouver Board of Trade) and other prominent business men at a conference to-day of representatives of the Board of Trade, and delegates from Australia and New Zealand who are attending the National Council of Education. Admitting that the trade balance rested with Canada, speakers declared that it was not altogether the fault or Canadians. Mr Woodward said the psychology of Canadians was to spend money within the Empire.' Mr H. R. Macmillan sajd the United States studied Canadian market conditions and gave them what they wanted. Canadians read United States advertisements. The consumer in any country rarely chose what he wished. He bought what was put before him "I suggest that Australians should study our market conditions," added Mr Macmillan. Mr H. W. Fordham Johnston (managing director of the British Columbia Sugar Refinerv) said it -was likely he could "boost" Australian exports to Canada by several millions if given an opportunity. He said he was anxious to purchase Australian raw sugar, but in recent years he had not been offered any. He intimated that he might be abie to pay higher prices for raw material than were obtained on the English market. Mr S. P. D. Malkin said there was a big market for Australian fruits, the quality of which was not excelled anywhere, if Australians would understand the marketing problem from the Canadian viewpoint. Mr S. Baymer and others suggested to Mr F. F. Hose (secretary of the Liquor Control Board) that if the British Columbian Government were prepared to make less profit on Australian than French wines, the Australian product would soon become popular in British Columbia. Australian delegates said they agreed that the proper way to develop the Canadian market wasi to send men to studv the situation. They proposed to see the Prime Minister (Mr S. M. Bruce) and the Premiers of the States on their return.—Australian Press Association, United Service.

CANADIANS EAGER TO BUY. PROPER PUBLICITY ESSENTIAL. (Received. This Dav, 11.35 a.m.) , VANCOUVER, April 10. Canadians are eager to buy Australian goods of quality and give them preference as a matter of Empire sentiment. Vancouver importers and merchants are ready and willing; to go as far as they can in encouraging a market for Australian goods, but — and tho but was made very' olain — Australian manufacturers and producers and shippers must realise that it is up to themselves to sell their goods on the Canadian market. They must learn the needs and requirements as to quality and package, and Canadian methods of trade. Above all, they must at least assist in advertising here their own wares. All this was stated on the Canadian side of an informal conference between Australian delegates to the Education Conference and leading members of the Vancouver Board of Trade.

On their side, the Australians held that the necessity for better acquaintance with the Canadian market was already being recognised. They instanced the appointment of an Australian Tradei Commissioner, but were reminded* of his limitations.

"The Commissioner cannot possibly do the work that should be done by direct contact by firms seeking a market here, and any. day in any week there are 40 American travellers in Vancouver industriously showing goods and taking orders, and no Trade Commissioner could get, in five years, information that representatives of American houses have at their fingertips," said Mr H. R. MacMillan (a leading timber exporter). He urged that the heads of Australian houses should come to Canada, look over the field, and learn the needs and idiosyncrasies of buying. The public determine for- themselves the opportunities offered, and then act on first-hand information obtained. There should be an intensive educational campaign, telling Canada of Australian goods ' available. j Discussion centred for a time on a [market for Australian wines. A suggestion by an Australian delegate that the price preference over other imported wines might readily result in Australia granting preference to Canadian timber and other products as assented to by all the delegates Mr D. H. Ross (Canadian Trade Commissioner in Australia.) suggested that British Columbia and other Canadian liquor control boards might well lessen their profit on Australian wines. This might encourage the Australian authorities to give further preference to Canadian timber. —Australian Press Association.