CANADA TODAY

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 8, 10 January 1934, Page 8

CANADA TODAY

TRADE RELATIONS

RESULTS OF OTTAWA

An address on affairs in Canada was given by Mr. L. R. Macgregor, Australian Trade Commissioner in Canada, .at a luncheon tendered him by the Chamber of Commerce yesterday. Canada now had a population of 10J million people,' although upon the establishment of the Canadian Confederation in 1867 the population was only 3$ million. Canada had nine provincial governments as well as the Federal Government. There was a Federal versus Provincial- rights question from which New Zealand was free. Fortunately it seldom obtruded in an embarrassing degree in Canada. The Canadian Constitution,differed from that of Australia in that in the case of Canada provincial pojvers were defined, the residual powers pertaining to the Federal authority., .'..,-.." Canada provided the most interesting world instance Of two races both claiming'the country as their home and its institutions as their own, and retaining their own language and religion, and yet living together in peace and harmony in joint citizenship. There was probably no complete parallel to the British-Canadian and French-Canadian nationalism with-, its interweaving of two great cultures and acceptance of bilingualism. ■ ; Another noteworthy feature of Canada's relations was the arrangement with the U.nited States whereby 3000 miles of frontier are left undefended. There was a permanent Interr national Joint Commission of equal representation to which questions affecting the interests of the two countries were referred. Canada also a, good many years ago established its own diplomatic corps, and at present had her own Ministers and legations in the United States, France, and Japan. Notwithstanding close proximity to the United States, British sentiment was remarkably strong in Canada, and was a potent factor in national policies. There still existed the spirit of the United Empire Loyalists who crossed from the United States into Canada at the timo of.. the War of Independence, in order to remain under the Union Jack.,, ' . '■' ' /'■ '. - /■■■>'■. ' FRIENDLY RELATIONS URGED. Canada was the fifth trading nation of the world, and it was well/worth while for Australia and for New Zealand to patiently cultivate friendly relations with her, even if at times there might seem to be some lack of responsiveness. The present was hardly an appropriate time to judge of trade potentialities. The world ■ depression had induced import restrictions in some countries which would, not otherwise exist. It should be observed that the international trade of tw.enty leading countries last year was only 40 per cent, of the gold value of the trade ofthose countries in 1929. For the year ended October, 1930, Canada's domestic exports totalled nearly a billion dollars, whereas they were.just over half that amount in 1932. > . As a result of-the Ottawa Imperial Conference-agreements, Canada's trade with British. Empire countries^ was-in-creasing substantially. Canaaa's imports from Empire countries were now 30 per cent, of. tUe total imports. So far as Australian-Canadian-.trade was concerned it was only to a, limited extent that the production of the Dominion and the Commonwealth was complementary; In a considerable range of goods, the exports of the two countries were competitive in the world's markets. Nevertheless, as a result of-the trado agreement negotiated in 1931 direct interchange in quite a number of products was being developed between Australia, and Canada, and tho relations between the Governments were cordial and friendly. SENTIMENT TOWARDS NEW ZEALAND. Mr. Maegregor spoke in warm praise of the good work being done in Canada on behalf of New Zealand by Mr. J. \V. Collins, the New Zealand Government Trade Commissioner. Largely as a result of Mr. Collins's efforts a friondly sentiment towards New Zealand was being built up. • . .