TRADE WiTH EASTERN CANADA

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 30, 4 February 1913, Page 6

TRADE WiTH EASTERN CANADA

ARGUMENTS FOR A RETTJBJJ SERVICE. MISLEADING CONCEPTIONS. CANADIAN COMMISSIONER'S OPINION. The consumption of New Zealand butter in Canada and the best and most economical way of getting it to the mouth of the Canadian consumer, was the subject of a talk between the Canadian Trade Commissioner (Mr. W. A. Beddoe) and a Pressman this morning. The remarks made by shippers in yesterday's " Star " on the comparative cost of getting our butter to Canada by way of Vancouver and by way of London were critically analysed by Mr. Beddoe, who pointed out pretty convincingly that such comparison was misleading. "Touse the term Canada in such a comparison, is almost as applicable as to use the word EuTope when speaking of France." said the Commissioner, " for between Vancouver in the West and the populous Eastern cities there is a railway line of over 3,000 miles. To freight butter 3.500 miles across a continent, and expect it to compete with sea-borne butter is of itself not a reasonable proposition. The trade to British Columbia must not. therefore, be confused with trade to Eastern Canada. It is in the east where the big centres of population lie, and it is particularly with the east that trade could be encouraged with mutual advantage; of that I feel certain."' declared Mr. Beddoe. The argument is used that at present merchants find it cheaper to tranship New Zealand butter to Canada from London. The simple explanation of that is that there is no other way of sending it. In commencing a service there is no freight in sight. It is a new business. The Canadian Government realised that, and subsidised steamers to run to New Zealand at £2,000 a trip, one every month. I presume the same conditions obtain in respect of shipping direct to Montreal from New Zealand. Shipping companies would scarcely be in a position to take up a permanent cargo service until business relations were established. I cannot indicate what the New Zealand Government should or should not do, but I am satisfied there is a splendid market in Montreal and the eastern cities so soon as it is found possible to send these vessels which come from Canada every month j back to Montreal direct, instead of sendI ing them via London and over the North I Atlantic. "My experience," added Mr. Beddoe, "is this, and I ha7e studied trade matters very closely—that where you get reciprocal and preferential tariffs and I satisfactory transport facilities, the j suit will be an extending and profitable J commerce between the countries conI ceraed. But to compare the freight j charges between New Zealand and j Eastern Canada via Vancouver, and via London is misleading, because they &Te not on a common basis apart from the higher freight rates bj mailboat as against freight steamer, as ! the butter from Vancouver, before i 1 ! could be landed in Montreal, would havf !to travel 3,500 mile 3by rail, involvinj j also refrigeration and insurance charges ilt is out of the question." I ■■ 1 '