TRADE WITH CANADA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20841, 7 April 1931, Page 8

TRADE WITH CANADA.

Attention has been drawn by the Canadian Pacific Railway to the relative positions of Australia and New Zealand in the overseas trade of Canada. During the year 1930 New Zealand displaced Australia as tho second customer of Canada, Great Britain standing first. The exports to New Zealand were within measurable distance of £3,750,000 the official New Zealand returns make them slightly more than this sum—and those to Australia were valued at £2,970,000. The imports from New Zealand were given as j £2,500,000, from Australia £920,000. j On theso figures New Zealand is a I much more important buyer of Canadian goods than Australia. Yet, as repeatedly stated already, j while Australia and Canada have I made a tentative trade agreement, now awaiting ratification, penal duties are being imposed on butter. New Zealand's most important article of export to Canada, and retaliatory duties are charged on Canadian motor vehicles without j anything practical having been done toward meeting the position. Asj pointed out a few weeks ago, the j effect of this position is most marked. For tho four months, October to January, 1929-30, New Zealand exported to Canada goods to the value of £1,876,969. For the corresponding period of 1930-31, when the duty on butter was affecting the position, the figure was £174,895. In January, 1930, NewZealand exports to Canada were valued at £625,115, in January this year at £25,783. For February, 1931, the value was £ 15,856, against £522,024 last year. The deadly blow struck at the trade with Canada is thus revealed. It is time, therefore, that the commercial community and the country as a whole was given some evidence of action by the Government to meet this * truly alarming position. It is no usc\* saying, as has been said, that Canada must and will have our butter, in spite of the tariff. The figures tell a different story. They show how trade has fallen off at a time when the loss of it cannot be endured. The call for action is imperative, and the Government cannot safely ignore it a moment longer.