CANADA THE STOREHOUSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23491, 31 October 1939, Page 6

CANADA THE STOREHOUSE

The Canadian Minister of Mines and Resources, visiting London as Mr. Fraser is on New Zealand's behalf, is accompanied by a body of officials and experts who are expected to co-operate in a determined attack on the problems of Britain's food supply. In this, and in many other ways, Canada is better sited and equipped than any other Dominion to help. As an instance of power in food production, there are at present nearly 10,000,000 acres of land, capable of use for this purpose, beyoijd the area in cultivation in 1918, when the stimulus of war demand had caused, an expansion of 54 per cent from the 1914 level. Canada can export more than 80 per cent of her wheat, and the current year's harvest is expected to yield 400,000,000 bushels. What can be supplied requires shorter ocean carriage than from any other comparable part of the Empire. But it is not only in foodstuffs that-Canada promises to be an economic ally of first rate importance. The Dominion produces 87 per cent of the world's supply of nickel, 11 per cent of its copper, the same proportion of lead, and 9 per cent of zinc. In addition to materials, the Dominion possesses plant which can be rapidly adapted to the production of munitions, as was amply proved between 1914 and 1918. In a report on war activities during 1917, the Imperial War Cabinet stated that Canada was manufacturing all types of shell from 18-pounder shrapnel to 9.2 inch high explosive. In the second half of the year reviewed 55 per cent of the shrapnel shell for the British forces came from Canada, as well as 42 per cent oi 4.5 inch shells and varying proportions of higher calibre ammunition. What was done then can be done and eclipsed now. ■ Canada as a storehouse of munitions and supplies is an asset Germany would give much—possibly Russia —to have.