CANADA AND CHINA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20384, 12 October 1929, Page 11

CANADA AND CHINA.

remarkable trade growth

INCREASED WHEAT SHIPMENTS

[>nOM OUR OWS CORRESPONDENT.] VANCOUVER, Sept. 17. The expansion of Canada's trade with China lias been one of the outstanding features of tho Dominion's development during the post-war periotf. It has had the effect of raising the status of Vancouver to a world port, at the western cross-roads of the Empire. Before the war, Canadian trade with China was of insignificant volume. Virtually balanced, no great expansion was forecast. In 1913, Canada's imports from China totalled £150,000, and her exports were £140,000. In the latest fiscal'year imports from China were £600,000, while the exports reached £4,730,000—an increase of no less than £2,000,000 over the previous year. Tho increment is accounted for mainly by greater wheat shipments.

The significant phase of the trade growth Jias been wheat and flour shipments, which commenced only during the war and increased rapidly with the pronounced tendency in China to adopt a wheat diet. In 1928, China imported 3,485,000 bushels of Canadian wheat, worth £700,000, and 1,280,200 barrels of flour, worth £1,200,000, the latter being double the quantity of the previous year. Wheat and flour account for over half Canada's export trade. The balance covers a long list of commodities, of which lumber, minerals and fish products rank high, while there is a substantial export of silver bullion. China, stabilised, is destined to become one of the most productive and prosperous nations in the world, and, due to its nearness, Canada is looking, for a share in the coming trade growth. Canada has been preparing for this development by establishing cordial relations" and constructing the fastest and most efficient transportation service between the American Continent and China.

The feeling in China toward Canada is very friendly, due to the mutual goodwill of 50,000 Chinese nationals resident in Canada, and to the reputation for integrity and reliability built up by Canadian traders. The Canadian Pacific Bailway is the most effective individual factor in promoting trade between Canada and China. From a nucleus of three small vessels, their transpacific fleet has steadily expanded, and the Empresses, plying between Vancouver and the Orient, now reach the l&st word In efficiency, comfort and luxury.