The Proposed Canadian Treaty.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 15, 3 August 1895, Page 2

The Proposed Canadian Treaty.

» THE ADVANTAGES QUESTIONED. A deputation of about twenty members of both branches of the Legislation waited upon the Colonial Treasurer on Thursday afternoon to point out the very serious effect the proposed reciprocal treaty with Canada would probably have upon colonial industries generally and especially upon Auckland timber and fish industries.-F-Mr Mitchelson Slid the timber people were much alarmed at the admission of Canadian timber, duty free, and were anxious that the Government should take steps to prevent this, otherwise the industry here must be destroyed and thousands of our population thrown out of work. Canadian timber could be sold in Sydney and Melbourne at a price which completely shut out kauri, and for the last five years kauri and the southern timbers bad been sold in those markets at a positive loas. Complaints were also made as to the introduction of joinery from Canada.— Mr C. H. Mills stared that Canadian competition would paralyse the timber industry so fir ag Nelson and Marlborough were concerned. — Mr Massey stated that the effect of the treaty would be to clcse a number of mills in his district— Mr Meredith urged that the introduction of American timber without restriction would ruin trade, and he also opposed the introduction of the manufactui ci article. — These opinions were endorsed by several other members. Mr Hall stating that if some outlet were not provided for their timber all the JJawkes Biy mills would have to close. — Messrs Massey and Houston also drew attention to the alarm felt by the fish curers at the proposal to allow the importation of Canadian salmon free of duty, which threatened to strangle the local industry.— Mr Ward, in replying, said the' object of the Government had been to widen the external trade of the colony so as to enable exporters to have larger markets for their produce. The Government had made enquiries at Home and abroad with regard to the timber industry, and the object of these reciprocal agreements was the opposite to that which thn people concerned seomerl to think. While io England he was assured there was a market for New Zealand timber on the Wost Coast of Canada and only very little probability of Canadian timber interfering with our colonial markets. Apart from ko.uri, he did not think the ordinary Canadian timber could compete within the colony. If the colony was to go ahead, reciprocal treaties were necesFary, but he had no wi-h itinjure the colonial timber industry. He was making inquiries and if the industry was likely to suffer the proposals in the treaty would ba modified. That should be sufficient assurance to those interested. Tre same remark would apply to the fish industry. He did not sea why they should feartha competition of Canadian fish when the Mew Zealand article could successfully compute with the Canadian in the market? cf New South Wales. It was his duty to collect the facts and give an independent judgment. They must not take a narrow view, for that would mean that their trade must be confined to their own colony, which he did not think desirable. If any industry were poing to be endangered it would be the duty of the Government to assist.— lt was stated during the diacusßion that the deputation was quite of non-party character.