EMPIRE TRADE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21462, 8 April 1933, Page 7

EMPIRE TRADE

DAIRYING IN CANADA AMERICA'S TARIFF WALL The conditions which had led Great Britain to abandon her traditional policy of free trade were outlined by Mr. H. I. E. Priestman, Assistant-Trade Commissioner for Canada, in an address to members of the Overseas League on Thursday evening. Tho speaker also reviewed tho findings of tho Ottawa Conference and their probable influence on Empire trade. Some people, he said, had expressed disappointment that Ottawa had not resulted in an immediate increase of prosperity in the countries concerned, but he would appeal to them to allow more time to elapse before passing judgment. The way in which the effect of high tariff walls could be felt in distant countries was illustrated by Mr. Priestman, in explaining the present attitude of Canada toward New Zealand butter. At one time the Canadian dairy farmers did not bother much about making butter and cheese, but sent tlieir fresh milk and cream across tho border into the United States. The imposition of a high tariff by the importing country put a stop to that trade, and tho milk and cream had then to be made into butter and cheese. -Another factor was the collapse of the price of wheat, which had compelled many of the grain-growers to take refuge in dairying. Another instance of what the Canadian farmers had been confronted with was the fact that eggs had been selling for as little as 2Jd a dozen. Was it any wonder, in those circumstances, that the farmers demanded protection for their butter? At the conclusionof Mr. Priestman's address, Mr. F. W. Doidge,. of London, described Lord Beaverbrook's crusade for Empire trade, and quoted figures showing the striking improvement that had taken place in England's trade position since the adoption of an altered tariff policy.