PACIFIC TRADE GROUP

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 141, 11 March 1930, Page 8

PACIFIC TRADE GROUP

CANADIAN LUMBERMAN’S PLEA KEEPING THE MONEY IN THE EMPIRE Dominion Special Service. , Auckland, March.lo. In a breezy speech, pregnant with Imperial patriotism, Mr. J. 11. McDonald, representing the Canadian lumbermen, at present touring the Dominion, kept Auckland Rotarians interested as he put in a fervent plea for a closer trade relationship. “It is time we had a stock-taking,” said Mr. McDonald. “We find that in four years you have increased your sales to Canada eight times over, and you have bought from us only 5 per cent more. Timber is our chief exporting line to your shores, and we find that while you have been importing less from us you have been increasing your imports from the United States. Yet our friends in the south charge you 7d. a lb on any butter you send them, compared with Id. a pound if it comes to Canada. We admit your wool free; to land in the U.S.A, it faces a duty of. 17d. per pound.” Commenting on these facts Mr. McDonald said they were asking for definite preference for Canadian timber entering this Dominion. This \ was necessary to meet the shiping subsidies paid by the American "Government to boost their timber exports. Pacific Trade Group.

Dealing with the general question of preference within the Empire, Mr. McDonald said that many Canadians had come to the conclusion that Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the outlying islands should, with Canada, be more closely associated in all trade matters. This was necessary to. help to pay the war debts. If the grouping that was possible in the Pacific group of the British Empire were consummated, a big thing would have been achieved. That might indeed act as a lead for Downing Street in a wider movement for a bigger Imperial market pool. Attention was drawn by the speaker to the fact that New Zealand butter was sent into Canada packed in Swedish boxes. Such anomalies as this seemed to suggest that there was scope for a mutual and a fresh start on both sides.

“We want to swap our timber for your butter,” said the speaker as he urged the necessity of conferences to bring about closer trading between the Pacific countries of the Empire.