EMPIRE TRADE GAINS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 2 May 1935, Page 5

EMPIRE TRADE GAINS

CANADA’S BUDGET FIGURES Tin; effective operation of the Empire trade agreements loomed largely in the Budget 'speech of the Canadian Minister of Finance (Mr E. N. Rhodes) in the Dominion Parliament, Ottawa (writes Reuter’s Canadian News Service). “In the ten months ended 31st January, the latest date to which figures of trade by countries are compiled, exports to the United Kingdom, our largest market, recorded an increase of nearly 22 per cent, over the corresponding ten months of last year,” said Mr Rhodes. “For Ml Empire countries the increase was 24 per cent. Exports to Australia showed a gain of 52 per cent., to New Zealand 82 per cent., to British India 21 per cent., and to South Africa 76 per cent.

“Oil the other hand, exports U> foreign countries increased by only 6 per cent. Exports to countries increased by nearly 71,000,030 dollars in the ten months’ ” period, and of this amount 0b, 000,000 dollars, or 79 per cent., was accounted tor in increased exports to Empire countries. Since 1932, the year of tlie Imperial Conference, the value of our export trade with the United Kingdom has increased by 52 per cent. This gain has been a material factor in improving conditions in a wide variety of Canadian industries. 'ln 1934 the exports of Canadian agricultural products exceeded those of 1532 bv 16,600,000 dollars; in animal and animal products the advance was 24.000,C00 dollars; in wood products, chie'iy timber, it was 14,500,000 dollars ; and in non-ferrous metals and tiicir products, including copper, lead, nickel a'nd zinc, the gain was 31,000,000 dollars. - ’ The Budget showed a surplus in the ordinary account of £540,000. Ordinary revenues were £71,860.000. i.nd ordinary expenditures were £71,320.