THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1893.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9335, 19 October 1893, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1893.

Our Australian tiles give some interesting details concerning the visit of the Hon. Mackenzie Bowell, Minister of Trade and Commerce, of the Canadian Dominion, to Australia in connection with the Vancouver route and the development of trade relations between Canada and Australia. (Since his arrival in New South Wales he has had interviews with the Premier (Sir George Dibbs) and other members of the Cabinet, and generally discussed with them the objftct of his mission. It is understood that Mr. Bowell has no intention of committing the Canadian Government to any definite line of action, but his object is simply to gain knowledge and report to his Government. He is now the leader of the Canadian Senate, and as a professional journalist, having for many years published the Ontario Intelligencer, is qualified for the task lie has set himself. Mr. Bowell thus succinctly puts the object of his mission to these colonies :—

My mission is to visit the different Australian colonies as far as is practicable in the time at my disposal, and to discuss with the various Governments the question of closer relations between the Dominion of Canada and these colonies, particularly as regards trade. In the past we have been straugers in more respects than one. The establishment of this new line, of steamers is now bringing us into closer connection, and in order to make the line a success we should like to see the trade between the two countries developed so as to prove profitable and advantageous to both. 1 have no doubt that this route will become a highway for travel from Australia to Europe, as it is the shortest route, and certainly more pleasant than by the Suez Canal, presenting as it does a variety of climates, and scenery that is unsurpassed in any portion of the world. It is a mistake altogether to suppose that the trip through the Rocky Mountains either in summer or winter is as intolerable as has been represented by some people. The statement that the C.P.R. is often delayed in the winter season is altogether a misconception. It has been in operation now five or six years and there lias been only one or two delays, and these have arisen from a desire to catch the Atlantic steamers in order to secure the mails. The snow difticuty is not at all a barrierto the successful working of the route The Vancouver route will also prove a pleasant way for travel on account of the many attractions of the Sandwich Islands, and if communication was made with Fiji the route would be still more interesting and attractive.

Speaking of trade relations and the products which the two countries could interchange, Mr. Bowell considers that as the seasons are opposite, the Australian summer being the Canadian winter, that fact alone ought to create a large profitable trade between the two countries. The trade which has already grown up in the few months the line has been open, he regards as giving fair promise for the future, and the Canadian Pacific Railway and the people of the Dominion are desirous of fostering it. The passenger traffic is likely to be increased, from the fact that Honolulu is fast becoming a winter resort for a large number of Canadians, particularly that class which goes to warm climates during the winter season. Hitherto the winter resorts of this class have been chiefly the Bermudas, Florida, and Southern California, bub the greater attractions of the Sandwich Islands are becoming known, and already since the Vancouver line has been opened a number of Canadians have gone there. If the. intention of the promoters of the McKinley Bill were to force Canada into the arms of the United States it has wofully failed. It has had a contrary effect, namely, to compel Canada to look to other countries for the markets she formerly had in the United States, and to throw her on her own resources. These conditions have forced her to seek fresh markets among the four millions of the English-speaking race in the Australasian group. Even with the tariffs remaining unaltered, Mr. Bowell considers that a great trade could be built up, as the experience of the Vancouver route during the past few months has fully shown. Among the articles which they are prepared'to i take are wool, hides, tobacco, and fruit. j Mr. Bowell sees no reason why a large trade could not be cultivated with Canada in wool, especially as she imports millions of pounds of. wool, and to a great extent from these colonies, as the tariff arrangements are more favourable than those of the United States, inasmuch as the finer'grades of wool are admitted duty free. In the Eastern portion of Canada the Australian oranges are already coming into competition with the oranges from Florida, Jamaica, and other West Indian Islands. ' "The Canadians," says Mr. Bowell significantly, " know good fruit when they see it," and therefore it is no use in Australasian fruit exporters sending fruit with which no attempt at grading has been made, and carelessly selected and packed. The fruit exporters, apparently, have not yet learnt the lesson that honesty is the best policy after all, and that to put good fruit on the top of the case and windfalls at the bottom may be smart business, but it does not pay in the long run, if a remunerative fruit trade is to be built up. With regard to tobacco, there is a good opening for Austral-asian-grown leaf. Ninety-five per cent, of the supply is obtained from Havana and the United States, and comes in duty |free for manufacturing purposes. The Canadians are desirous of getting the Australasian hard woods for wharf and pavement purposes, the Canadian soft woods being found unsuitable, as they do not resist the teredo, and creosoting is found to be very expensive. One of the most important matters in connection with Mr. BowelFs mission is that of establishing a direct British cable between the Australasian Group and Canada, as still further cementing the connection and union betweenthese countries which the Vancouver line of steamers is likely to effect. The Canadians will have nothing to do with any line which is not direct and under British control, and in the direction of Imperial federation. They foresee that the section to New Caledonia can never be part of a Pacific line of effective use to the British Empire, as at the first touch of a European war, or international complications with any of the European Powers, the key of the position would be in the hands of the French authorities. The French at New Caledonia are equally opposed to the connection with Fiji, and state that if England and her colonies desire the luxury of such a line let them pay for it. So far does

feeling go, thai in the event of a proposition being made to the French Government upon the matter, it is understood the people, of New Caledonia will protest against any expenditure being, incurred so far as they are concerned. - Mr. Bowell has confessed himself surprised at the national progress made by Australia, and remarked to the Premier of New South Wales, "We in Canada knownothing about Australia." He will visit Queensland and 'Victoria for certain, and possibly South Australia, taking Fiji on'his return journey home again, so as to be in time for the meeting of the Dominion Parliament early in the new year, when the whole question of revision of the tariff and the adjustment of intercolonial relations will come up for consideration. The debate on the Federation Bill comes on in the New South Wales Parliament presently, and Mr. Bowell will see for himself what are the prospects of the establishment of an Australian Dominion. As showing the growing trend of public opinion in the Australian colonies towards a better form of national life than that presented in the jealousies and disunion of to-day, a new monthly review has been started in Sydney called the Australasian Army, Navy, and Defence Review, and Federal Advocate, claiming to be the true organ of Australasian federal defence. While dealing with this phase of federation, it will also give due importance to the wider issues affecting the welfare and prosperity of the Commonwealth, of which "the service" is .only the 'physical safeguard.