CANADA FEELS BLOW

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 130, 4 June 1931, Page 11

CANADA FEELS BLOW

MANUFACTURERS ACT PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT TO COME TO AGREEMENT United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. (Received 4th June, 11 a.m.) VICTORIA (8.C.), 3rd June. "The Canadian Government is most anxious to arrive at an amicable agreement with New Zealand-, and entertains every hope that this will be achieved in the near future." In these words the Minister of Trade and Commerce, Mr. Stevens, advised the convention of Canadian Manufacturers here on Wednesday, 'in responding to a message from the convention requesting the Government to do its utmost in connection with the withdrawal by New Zealand of British preference on Canadian goods. \ . "It is important in. the interest of our export trado that a now agreement with Now Zealand be consummated in the near future," dc'elarccl Mr. IV C. Brown, chairman of the British Columbia division of the Canadian Manufacturers' Association, addressing the convention on Tuesday. New Zealand's action in withdrawing British preference had hit the canned salmon' industry hard, he said, and urged sending a delegation to New Zealand. He had been hoping'from day to day to sco tho announcement of the conclusion of a new agreement with Australia continuing the present prcferenco on paper, fish, and lumber, and extending that on lumber.

An invitation to send a delegation to New Zealand was extended to Canadian manufacturers on Wednesday by Mr. J. \V. Collins. In addressing the convention, he said that he understood the association was considering the proposal in a favourable light, and plans were now being ' formulated for some fifty members to visit New Zealand, sailing from Vancouver on 6th January, and returning in April. "New Zealanders," said Mr. Collins, "will warmly welcome a resumption of past trado relations with • Canada, and, although undoubtedly there are some difficult problems to be overcome, I fully believe they can be surmounted."