TRADE RELATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15250, 13 March 1913, Page 8

TRADE RELATIONS.

CANADA AND NEW ZEALAND. FUTURE POSSIBILITIES. EXTENSION OF SERVICES. Trade relations between Canada and New Zealand were referred to the Hon. G. E. Foster, Minister for Trade and Commerce in the Canadian Government, by a Herald representative yesterday. Mr. Foster said that no one could.deny that trade between the two Dominions had developed at a wonderful rate during the last few years. One of the most satisfactory features of the development was that the trade was evenly divided, each country exchanging the same amount of produce. New Zealand produce was becoming more and more favourably known in Canada, and there were prospects of the trade expanding to a very important extent. " You have a fine service already between Auckland and Vancouver," said Mr. Foster. " I never wish to travel on a more comfortable boat than the Makura. But I understand that both from a passenger and a freight view there is overtaxed accommodation While this is a good sign, it points to the fact that an extension of the service will be necessary soon." Mr. Foster then went on to refer to the Eastern Canadian service. He said that this part of the trade was developing satisfactorily, but the difficulty at present was that the vessels returning from New Zealand to Canada often left with insufficient freight to warrant a direct passage. " It would be much better," said the Minister, "if you could send us full steamers, for I am satisfied that there is an opportunity for big trade development along this route. One reason is that the long journey by rail across Canada is avoided, this being the drawback to the Vancouver route, as far as produce for Eastern Canada is concerned." "There is room for both," was Mr. Foster's answer to a question as to how reciprocity between Australia and Canada would affect the latter's trade relations ■with New Zealand. Mr. Foster said New Zealand had some advantage of position, but this would not have very much effect on long-distance freight rates.. It was not possible for him as yet to give any details of any proposed reciprocal relations between his country and Australia, as the negotiations had not reached a point at which he would be justified in expressing any opinion. " New Zealand trade," he said, "is recognised as valuable in Canada, and as it i 6 developing so profitably for both parties you can be assured that it cannot be prejudiced to any extent." The suggestion that the Canadian Pacific Railway Company might place a steamer or steamers on the Vancouver-Auckland run was then mentioned to Mr. Fraser. "You must remember," he said with a smile, "that the C.P.R. is a very progressive line. It already possesses a fine fleet of steamers for the trade and mail routes to China and Japan. Just recently it doubled this service, and two 18,000-ton steamers are being commissioned this year for this trade. The C.P.R. is alive to all its opportunities, and if it sees an opening for advantageous communication between Vancouver and here, it will not be lone in putting its ideas into effect." Mr. Foster said that nothing official had yet been communicated to him about the matter, but he had heard! rumours to the effect that the C.P.R. was negotiating in the matter. Vlf they see an opening they will not let it go by," the Minister added.