LOYALTY OF CANADA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19620, 26 April 1927, Page 14

LOYALTY OF CANADA.

RELATIONS WITH AMERICA. NO MOVEMENT FOR UNION. ' STATEMENT BY A MINISTER. "There is not the slightest truth in any rumour that may have reached you that there is a movement in Canada to join up with the United States," emphatically declared the Hon. Ernest Lapointe, Minister of Justice in the Canadian Ministry, who arrived by the. Aorangi from Vancouver on Sunday evening on his way to the opening of the Australian Federal Parliament at Canberra. "Such a suggestion is a farce," he added. "The people of Canada have never even thought of such a thing, let alone considered it." Asked if the large amount of American capital sunk in Canadian enterprise had anything to do with the rumour, Mr. Lapointe laughingly replied that money had no nationality. It was true, however, that there was a large amount of American capital operating in Canada. He added that Canada was as loyal to Great Britain as any other Dominion. Canada and the United States were friendly neighbours and that was all. The two peoples were entirely different in thought and outlook. At the present time Canada was enjoying a period of prosperity, Mr. Lapointe continued. Industries were increasing and prospering, while many new settlers were pouring into the country. A noticeable feature of the influx was the large number coming from the United States. "Canada favours immigratioft, so long as the settlers are of the right type,' said Mr. Lapointe. "We want men for the land, and they have to be the type to stand up t,o hard work. So long as we get these, thore will be little unemployment." Speaking of prohibition in the United States and its effect on Canada, Mr. Lapointe said a commission was now sitting in Canada to consider the best means of preventing the smuggling of liquor into the United States. As a result of the commission, ho anticipated there would bo changes in the treaty made t\vo years ago between the United States and Canada. These changes should be of benefit to both countries. There was no doubt that quantities of liquor were passing from Canada across the border, and silken goods, etc., were being brought back in exchange. Speaking of trade relations between the two Dominions, Mr. Lapointe said Canadian people were anxious to trade with New Zealand, and this feeling was shown by the fact that Canada's purchases of New Zealand goods had increased during the past two years by a very large amount, and had now reached the total of about £900,000. " Canada's participation in the New Zealand exhibition in Dunediu and New Zealand's exhibit at the Canadian national exhibition in Toronto show the mutual :lesire of the two Dominions for interEmpire trade," Mr. Lapointe stated. " Canada's feeling toward New Zealand is exemplified by her extension of the benefits of the Australian trade agreement to New Zealand, and to New Zealand alone. It must not be overlooked that Canada buys a fair amount of New Zealand wool through English, houses, and before the wool is consumed.it. has lost its New Zealand identity. The best of feelings have always existed between the two countries, and it is the desire of the Canadian Government that these relations should be extended arid cemented."