TRADE WITH CANADA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 69, 20 March 1908, Page 6

TRADE WITH CANADA.

" IMPERIAL UNITY. THE PACIFIC CABLE. Mr. J. S. Larke (Canadian Trade Commissioner from Sydney), met the Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon at three o'clock, when there were, present: Messrs. L. J. Bagnall (chairman), N. A. Nathan, S. Nathan, Graves, Aicken, B. Kent, Ivor Evans, A. Rose, A. Burtt, G. L. Peacocke, T. Hodgson, W. Leighton, J. Keed. J. Calinar, j. B. Macfarlane, K. Burns, T. Peacock. J. Gunson. J. M. Mennie, and Sir John Logan Campbell.

The chairman said the meeting was called to hear Mr. Larke, who was not astranger, having been in Auckland betore. Mr. 'Larke's object was to lay before the Chamber matters of interest to the Dominion.

ilr. Larke said there were matters he wished to lay before the chamber, which I could not be dealt with individually. As I a chamber they were naturally interested in anything that would tend to promote trade in the country. There was a tendency to expect too much from public men, but there were no more subservient slaves than public men, notwithstanding the power they were supposed lo possess. An Act of Parliament was of little use unless backed by the goodwill of the people. That goodwill could only be -obtained by educating the people by means of the Chamber of Commerce. Trowel and trade were both good means of educating the people of a country. There were wonderful* scenic beauties in New Zealand, and also in Canada, and to visit one another's countries was the best way to get to know each other. They were laying a policy in Canada not for to-day, or to-morrow, but for all time. To encourage travelling and trade generally they must have a better steam service between Auckland and Canada. INTERCHANGE OF COMMERCE. There were people who thought the trade was not growing between the two countries, but it was not stagnant. New Zealand exported £20.000 to Canada, according to its own statistics, but according to Canadian returns the amount was •■£ 62,000. and Canada sent to New Zealand £150.000 or £157,000, according to the Canadian returns. Neither of those estimates was correct, a-s a large portion of the imports and exports went indirectly through Australia, New York, and London. The fact was it was exceedingly difficult to know what was the actual trade between the two countries, but the figures showed that within the last three years the exports of Canada i had imreased by 73 per cent, while irom New Zealand to Canada the increase in exports \-as eightfold. They wished to see the trade increase faster, but it vras ' difficult to change trade from on'- channel to another. They had to wait patiently to make these changes. At one time their young men left Canada for the United State.-, but now the tide had set in the other way. So much so. thnt manufacturers were unable to cope with the increased demand for goods, lor want of operators. The financial ensis was now causing more operators to leave the United States for Canada, and this would perhaps tend to bring wages back to a level which would enable manufacturers to pay more attention to outside trade again. MAILS AND CABLES. One thing required was a better and more frequent mail service. Jle believed the "Ali lied Service" would come in the future. The cable service across the l'acitic was a success, although he had heard men say it was not. It cost New Zealand £50,000" last year, but if they had to pay the rates charged prior to the cable starting, the cost would be another £25,----000, so he claimed the cable paid. New Zealand and Australia were saving £320,----000 a year by the Pacific cable service New Zealand contributed £8000 last year to extinguish what was called a dencit. but he contended the cable paid expenses, and had an increasing profit. In 100G the cable returned £55,000 above working expenses. But they must remember that cable was laid upon borrowed money. It wasi agreed that £75.000 a year should be paid off., and another £35,000 a year put aside towards the cost of laying a new cable when one was required. In 10 years be was sure the Pacific cable would return all that had been contributed towards payment of what were termed deficits. In the future the Pacific cable would be a valuable addition to the annual returns oi the people of Australasia. He would like to talk to tlie farmer and the worker in the street to show them they also were interested in the Pacific cable. It j was not merely for the merchant the cable existed. The men on the land really benefited by the cable, but they did not know about it. At present Press messages came from Canada to New Zealand, via England, 16.000 miles instead of about 7000. The advantage of a shorter route was that there was less handling of the. messages, and naturally fewer mistakes. What they wanted was direct cable, truer information, and more of it. TRANSPORTATION" QUESTIONS. They were not doing the trade they should between Canada and New Zealand. Trade was a very peculiar tiling. For instance. Canada exported butter. but it also imported that article. In the nine months ending March last (52.000 lbs of butter were imported by Canada, but only SOOO came from New Zealand. Just the same in frozen meat, skins, wool, flax, and gum. New Zealand was not doing the trade it ought to with Canada. It was not because they had not confidence in one another"s trade. He had thirteen years' experience, and yet could not state he knew of any Canadian exporter who had done an act of deliberate dishonesty. A Frenchman said if God had not taught men honesty, they would have had to invent it in order to be able to do business. The fact was that reputation was requisite for business. There were difficulties in doing business through apents at times. A cheap and easy means of transportation was an absolute essential to foster trade. They had wool. flax. skin, and <nim in New Zealand, and Canada wanted these articles. They must get the Government in New Zealand to Eec that better transport facilities were provided. At present New Zealand wool went to England, was sold there, and transhipped to Canada. It was the same with skins and flax. It meant an extra cost of id per lb on wool, and IS/ per ton on flax, probably just the difference between a profit or a loss to the Canadian manufacturer. They must have a line of steamers between Australasia and the east side of Canada. Then there was the matter of tariffs. Each colony must make a tariff to suit, its own needs. They i might make mistakes, hut it was a good j thinp to make a trade which would help the trade of the Empire. INTER EMPIRE PREFERENCE. Canada with a Premier of entirely French blood first gave a preference of 12J per cent to the British manufacturer,

and afterwards it was raised to 33 per cent. They offered the same terms to any British colony which would reciprocate, and New Zealand was the first to respond. (Applause.) They were members of a common family, and while they wanted to trade with everybody, it was reasonable and best for people of their own kin. They must not forget that the war between Russia and Japan must be renewed in the future, and ■which ever side won it would be no gain to the British Empire. Of the 400,000,000 odd in their empire the defence depended upon about 50,000,000 white population, and if all that number were shown to be thoroughly united as in the South African war, it had a great moral effect. What they should do was to increase that 50,000,000 of white people. The trouble was that there were now more white people of British descent under foreign flags than under the British flag. Canada's conception of the preferential tariff was to make the British people to understand the Empire feeling in Canada. He considered they should have an Imperial immigration union to make the people follow the flag, and there would be no difficulty in defending the Empire in the future. New Zealand could not defend itself, neither could Canada, but Great Britain could defend them both, and they on their part must be prepared to do their share for such defence. (Applause. \ If they had a growing population of British people determined to hold the Empire for themselves and their children, they -ivould find in that their best defence, for the British Empire was essentially an empire of poaee. In conclusion Mr Larke said he had no hesitation in asking people of New Zealand to help Canada where it could lie done without hurting themselves, and he could assure them that Canada would willingly return the compliment. (Applause.)

•Mr. B. Kent expressed the hope that they would in due course have better communication with both the east, and west coast of Canada. He strongly advocated the welding together of the different parts of the British Empire.

.Mr. G. L. Peacocke said Canada's offer to extend the privileges of the preferential tariff to all British possessions willing to reciprocate, was a very generous act. He considered trade would follow the flaj; if proper facilities were offered , for mutual trade. Every country that worked for the consolidation of the Empire was certainly doing the best for its own future.

Mr. T. Peacock moved, "That this Chamber thanks Mr. Larke for his excellent address, and expresses its concurrence with the views stated by him as to the advantages of reciprocal trade between the two Dominions, also that the Chamber will take such opportunities as present themselves to urge the matter upon the Government.' , Mr. Kent seconded I he motion. Mr. Ivor Evans said Canadian goods had still too often to be quoted f.O.h. New York. To do trade between the two countries they must have direct steam communication between Canada and New Zealand. The desire, for mutual trade existed, but direct stoaiu communication was the first essential, lie urged that from a patriotic point of view business men should th" Pacific rahlc. Mr. S. Nathan said they partienlirly wanted .a steamship line communicating with the cast coast of Canada. The motion was then adopted. Mr. Larke. in returning thanks, said it was useless for the New Zealand Government to send a trade commissioner to Canada and then let him come back ajrnin. What, was wanted was a commissioner always resident there.