CANADA'S TROUBLES.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15561, 10 April 1916, Page 9

CANADA'S TROUBLES.

Sir Georzo Foster, Minister for Trade and Commerce in the Canadian Ministry, writing to an Auckland friend, says:—"l notico that you have the same troubles as regards transport and freight rates as we have. It is unfortunately much moro easy to point out tho difficulties than it is to provide efficient remedies. There is no necessity for my taking up time to point out the tremendous increases in freight rates the world over, nor to enforce the fact that up to the present time no Governments have been able to solve the difficulty.

''In Canada our transport is reduced to almost a fraction of our necessities. Our regular ljnes have been depicted almost to the vanishing point by requisitions from the Homo Government to nieet the necessities of the war, and ■with us at the present time it is not so much tho rates of freight that, are charged, but tho possibility of getting cargo at any rate, that may bo asked. . . . . Charters are, of course, abnormally high, and it is impossible to buy shipping at the present time without paying such enormous prices that, in view of tho contingency of duration, frightens capital from the venture. . . . ''The British Government has given very faithful and long consideration to the' question of commandeering ships for commercial purposes, but has found the difficulties and consequences too great to be met in that way. At least, that is tho case up to the present time. . . . I quito understand the difficulties of carrying on export trade under these conditions, but we must in the end admit that these conditions arc war renditions, and therefore unavoidable. With steamship companies at tho present. time it is not i question as to fair profit on vessels owned previously to the breaking out of the war. Tt is the old question of supply and demand, and the market rate established thereby, and not even Government subsidies can very much affect this general law. A largo exnorter telephoned to me yesterday. and made a harrowing plea for car<re space. In rezard to rates, he said he raised no question, hut what he ■wanted wag to set space for the nrodncts. nr» mat-tor bnw much he had to pp-r for their carrying.''

Sir ftforfe nlso says:—"l hnvp <rren t in kceriing the NVw Zealnnd SViipr>iTi<T Compariv on the route, "ven at e-vistiner rat*>s. hut havA (Jotia so the hero, in mail, say. uc w« shall hare to pay the -world's rate.' "