CANADIAN TRADE COMMISSIONER.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 168, 18 July 1910, Page 8

CANADIAN TRADE COMMISSIONER.

•APPOINTED TO NEW ZEALAND. INTERVIEWED AT BRISBANE. BRISBANE, July 10. The E.M.S. Manuka, -which, arrived at Pinkeriba this afternoon, had on board Mr. W. A. Beddoe, Canadian Trade Commissioner to New Zealand. This is a new appointment, for although there has been a Trade Commissioner in Australia for some years past, there has never been one in New Zealand. Mr. Beddoe stated that the steamer Bakaia —tne first vessel of the new subsidised line of steamers from Montreal to New Zealand, Sydney, and Melbourne —was due at Melbourne to-day. The subsidy provided that Melbourne must be the first port of call; steamers proceeding thence to Sydney and New Zealand. The steamers on this line carry no passengers. Mr. Beddoe declared that Canada was anxious to promote trade relations with New Zealand. Questioned regarding the drought in Canada, Mr. Beddoe said he did not think the drought very serious, as Canada was a very large country, and it would not affect the whole country. Canada has 10,000,000 acres under wheat this year, and has 150,000,000 ready for settlement. The Grand Trunk Pacific railway was progressing rapidly, 2300 - miles having 'been constructed. The Gov- , ernment was building a line from the Atlantic to Winnipeg, and the Grand Trunk railway building from Winnipeg to the Pacific. This was regarded as the most scientifically-built, railway in the world. Mr. Beddoe said in a country such as Canada, or a country like Au.s- ---' tralia, such a line could not fail to be of immense value. He was certain that if we ran a line from north to south o« ' east to west it would be of immense ad- . vantage. A railway must precede set- , tlement, instancing the case in the construction of the Grand North Canada > Pacific railway, in which, through what ; was believed to be barren country, they struck the richest nickel in the world.