BRITISH PREFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 256, 13 July 1926, Page 11

BRITISH PREFERENCE

ESSENTIAL TO EMPIRE THE AUSTRALIAN-CANADIAN TREATY DIVISION OF OPINION IN NORTHERN DOMINION 'I he Australian Trade Commissioner in Canada says he does not know whether the Australian. Canadian Trade Treaty will be passed or not. He believes, however, that, if the British Empire is to continue, British preference must come, not only between Britain and the Dominions, but between the Dominions themselves. Br Telegraph.— Pit.-:ss Association. COPYRIGHT. Winnipeg, July 11. In the course of an interview with a representative of the Australian Press Association, Mr. Thomas, Trade Commissioner, said: “British Columbia is heart and soul for the passage of the Australian-Canadian Trade Treaty, for it will mean much to them, but since I have been in Canada I have learned that what the West may favour is not always regarded in the same light by the East. That is a problem I find I have to face, and it is also one of the serious problems for Canada. I do not know whether the Reciprocity Treaty will go through now or not, but I believe and hope that Canada will give it full and sympathetic treatment.” Mr. Thomas deprecated reports to the effect that, if the treaty failed to pass, Australia might retaliate by the imposition of duties on Canadian lumber and fish, and added that it would, however, be a sore blow to Australian pride, and there would be little use again trying to promote trade between Australia and Canada in the life of the present generation at least.

“If the British Empire is to continue,” he saiil, “I believe that British preference must come, not only between Britain and the Dominions, but between the Dominions themselves, and It must be an honest preference, honestly entered into and lived up to without evasion and subterfuge. When I get to Ottawa I intend to have _ Mr. Robb, late Minister of Commerce, introduce me to the Minister in the new Government, who mav have the matter in hand. We in Australia feel that Canada has not treated us fairly, and that feeling must l>e removed before trade between the two countries can flourish We must also remember that in all lines the United States is the chief trade competitor of the British Empire, and unless the nations of the Empire bind themselves together by treatv agreements we shall lose more business in the future than we have in the nast. T had small hone before I left Australia tlmt mv mission would be successful, but the warmth of my recention bv Canadian business men and the evidence I have seen of a desire on the part of the people of Canada to deal fairlv with Australia have led me to believe that mv first oninion may be wrong.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.