SHIPPED FROM CANADA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 31 January 1929, Page 5

SHIPPED FROM CANADA.

LOSS TO AMERICAN INTERESTS. U.S.A. EXPORT TRADE'TO A USE ALIA. (Unite:! Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.! WASHING ON, Jan. 29. President Coolidge to-day forwarded to the commerce committee of the Senate two divergent reports, one signed by Mr. Kellogg and the other by the Shipping Board, explaining the status of the alleged divergence of American shipments to Australia from American ports to Canadian in order to obtain preferential treatment under the tariff by which the whole cost of railway carriage in the case of the latter ports is not added to the value of the goods. The senate b\ resolution last yearhad askccl the President for information on this question. Mr. Kellogg’s report states: “It may be concluded that Canadian Customs preferences in favour of - British territories result in some diversion of traffic fi’om American to Canadian ports, although evidence is lacking that losses from this cause alone have been or can be very large.” The report observes that the Australian Government had amended its regulations in order to place the United .States on a parity with other countries and cause lor complaint no longer exists.

The Shipping Board, in discussing the regulations, held that under "nil artificial rule prescribed by a foreign Government, politically affiliated, with Canada, American railways and American ports are prejudiced with respect to the transportation of American foreign commerce with a corresponding advantage to Canadian railways and ports and British vessels. Parity should be established to the encl that American products, when imported into Australia, shall be subject to the import taxes of that country on a basis as favourable as shipments through American ports as to shipments of American products through Canadian ports.” The report concluded with a request that conditions he equalised. It is known that the State Department is discussing the matter through diplomatic channels with Canada, but it is believed that insufficient time remains for the present session of Congress to take legislative steps. These would possibly penalise Canadian shipments abroad through American ports as retaliation.