IMPERIAL TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1532, 30 August 1912, Page 2

IMPERIAL TRADE.

ADDRESS Bi' CANADIAN COMMISSIONEE. , (Bj Tslesraph-Presa Asaooiatlon.) ~, „ " Auckland, August 29. At the Chamber of Commerce, .Mr. AV. Ai BwUloo (Canadian, Commissioner) delivered an address to members on the j Importance of Empire Knowledge from tho Commercial Standpoint." lir. Beddoe advocated the extension of commerce within the British Empire. He showed the advantages of general knowledge of tho tariffs on which business was to bo transacted, and put the query as to how many business men in England or in other British Dominions knew to what countries , Canada extended preferential treatment. How many could answer tho same question with respect to other portions of the- oversea Dominions? Mr Beddoe pointed the moral of his story by reference to the proposal to subsidise the Oceanic Company, so that tho San I'rau-cisco-Sydney boats might call at Auckland. Ho saw no objection to that, but reminded his hearers that the primary object of Retting steamships to call at the port of Auckland was to increase the exports of the Dominion, and enjoy new markets. Tho United States was a hi},'li tariff country, and before New Zealand could secure portion of that very desirable market for her products there must be a degree of commercial reciprocity between the two countries. Tho point'was, however, that Now Zealand could not make concessions to tho States in exchange for concessions mado to her Without extending them-to a number of other countries under the favoured nations treaties that were in existence between them and Great Britain. At the same timo New Zealand would not bo able to elniin any concessions from the other countries: Mr. Beddoe pointed out the desirability of not, binding countries within the Empire to a subsidy to encourage foreign shipping, when in the near future there would be additional British lines in the Pacific, and doubtless calling at New Zealand ports. He drew the particular attention of the business community to the fact that tho completion of the Panama , Canal would bring Eastern Canada us near to New Zealand as Western Canada was to-day. One of the effects would Iμ that tho drain on Canadian produce due to the opening up of new markets for Canada would open up fresh markets for New Zealand in 'Western Canada.' lir. Beddoe said further that tho trend of fiscal events was clearly in the direction' ot preferential tariffs wifhiu tho Empire, and tho first step in this direction was the inauguration of a system of reciprocal preference between the- overseas Dominions. In conclusion he alluded to the importance- of the Empire Trade Commission, which would shortly take- evidence in New Zealand, and expressed the hope that intercourse with such eminent men might bo mutually conducive to more accurate "Empire knowledge."