TRADE WITH CANADA.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16558, 25 June 1919, Page 7

TRADE WITH CANADA.

• THE SHIPPING problem, A CANADIAN VISITOR'S VIEWS. An indication that Canadian business men do not intend to allow difficulties arising out of the present shortage of shipping to stand in the way of adequate facilities for trade communication between Canada and Australasia, was given a representative ol "The Press" by Mr D. D. McTavish, vice-president of the Canada Carbide Company. Ltd., Montreal, who passed through Christchurch yesterday. "Unless the shipping companies make arrangements to bring carbide to New Zealand people as fast as it is required, the Canada Carbide Company is prepared to put on a line of boats to do so," Mr McTavish said. He also intimated that these vessels, if put on, would carry general cargo in addition to carbide. Isaturally tlie question of back freights was an important factor in the proposal, and this waa one of the matters Mr Mclavish enquired into during his stay, l " ™"s Dominion. He pointed out that the natural products of Canada include wheat, wood, and wood products, elec-tro-chemicals, asbestos, nickel, ana iron; while New Zealand a products were frozen meat, hides, butter, cheese, and flax. "What we ought to do, as portions of the British Lmpire," said Mr McTavish. "is to exchange our national products, and in that way build up a firm relationship between Canada and Australia and New Zealand." Referring to matters connected with carbide supplies. Mr McTavish said that the Canada Carbide Company„ prior to the war. had got together a nice business in New Zealand, but on the outbreak of hostilities Sir Joseph Bell, the chairman of the Imperial Munitions Board in Canada, informed the company that he had the power to commandeer its workß, but he considered that the company could ran the works to better advantage. ihe imperial Government was, however, depending on the company to supply it with carbide of calcium, ns it possessed the largest carbide works m the British Empire. The company .pointed out that if the Imperial authorities took its output it would result in the company's export business being crippled, and its customers in all parts of the world inconvenienced. Sir Joseph, while admitting this, said that the war necessities of the Imperial Government must be the first £C"ieideration. The company, in addition to supplying carbide in the regular export package, developed a process bv which other chemicals were made directly from carbide, and for over two years the company turned 50 tons of carbide per dny into chemiacls, such as acetic acid, acetone, etc., the whole output being taken by the Imperial Government for the manufacture of munitions. In pre-war times the company's capacity was 50 tons of carbide per day: at the request of the Imperial authorities, made from time to time, this was increased to 200 tons per day. '"We will be able to promptly supply nil our customers in New Zealand," added Mr McTavish, "as soon as shinning facilities are could send a cargo of 500 tons if we could get the shipping space. The New Zealand Shipping Company is the main company doing business between Eastern • Canadian ports and Australasia, and each of the company's steamers is bringing as much carbide as the law permits—that is, 10 per cent, of the total cargo. The supplies coming to hand are being distributed as fairly and as equally between the company's customers as its New Zealand representatives, Messrs de Schryver, Ltd., Auckland, can arrange."