“GREATEST INDUSTRY”

Kaikoura Star, Volume LVI, Issue 90, 16 November 1936, Page 3

“GREATEST INDUSTRY”

TOURIST TRAFFIC VALUE TO CANADA The realisation of the potential value of Canada’s tourist resorts and the use of publicity by the Canadian railway companies, has led to the tourist industry of that Dominion taking first place in the industries of the country when the wheat crop does not beat it. according to Mr L. R. Macgregor, Australian Trade Commissioner in Canada, who arrived in Wellington recently. Canada’s first industry has been the wheat crop for many years, Mr Macgregor said, but the tourist traffic had grown to such an extent that it sometimes outstripped the wheat crop. Conditions in the northern Dominion were improving fast, but the wheat crop this vear was reduced owing to drought conditions. However, prices were better because of improved world conditions, and mining was experiencing a mild boom, with the result that there was a general tone of confidence. Tourist traffic between Canada and the United States, said Mr Macgregor. was greater than similar traffic between any other two countries, and was of enormous value to Canada. The . Canadian railways, and particularly the j Canadian Pacific Railway had given the ■ Canadian tourist resorts extensive and , attractive publicity in the United States, and the traffic had developed because of that and because of the ease with which Americans could travel into Canada. There were varied means of transport, and as the institutions and customs of the two countries differed an interesting contrast was provided. The Americans were particularly interested in the French settlements in the Quebec Province. The Cooler Lakes In summer time when the central States of America became very hot the Americans who could afford to travel, and travel to Canada was not expensive. went to the Canadian lakes. There was not much tourist traffic to the North-West territory, with he exeepion of Alaska and the Yukon, the main volumns of traffic being to the eastern provinces. There was also a fair amount of travel to British Columbia, and the Canadian Rodkies were always attractive in the summer. Mr Macgregor is stationed at Toronto, and frequently comes in contact with the New Zealand Trade Commissioner (Mr J.. W. Collins), who, he states is making good progress with New Zealand propaganda and the other duties of his office. Last winter they experienced frost varying from zero to 35 degrees below for two months, and required central heating in all offices and homes for seven months. His work in Canada, said Mr Macgregor, was governed by a trade agreement made in 1931, under which Canadia and Australia mutually extended their minimum tariffs with a few reservations on the Australian side. The agreement provided special rates of dutv for a short list of goods regarded as important in the export trade on each side. Canada’s sale in Australia were mainly timber, canned salmon, newsprint, and automobiles. In return Canada took from Australia each year 17,000 tons of dried fruit, 100.DOO cases of canned fruit, 100,000 gallons of wine and brandy, 40,000 tons of taw sugar, quantities of oranges, grapes, lemons, and onions, and smaH supplies of apples and pears. A fair amount of decorative hardwood for furniture making was also exported by Australia. Mr Macgregor has had a varied experience to fit him for his position, which he has occupied for six years. He handled the Western Australian wheat crop during the war years, and in 1919 was sent by the Western Australian Government to the United Kingdom to investigate marketing conditions. He later became director of marketing to the Queensland Govern meat, and was in that position when he was appointed Trade Commissioner for Australia in Canada. In 1930 he was attached to the Australian delegation tc rhe Imperial Conference in London, and a£l3d in a similar capacity at Ottawa

in 1932. In 1933 he acted as special representative for Australia to the British West Indies, and later to Newfoundland. He last visited Australia three years ago, and is on his way there at the present time.