Trade with Canada.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXV, Issue 9791, 17 March 1908, Page 4

Trade with Canada.

MR GOW'S REPORT. (Per Press Association".) Wellington,, March 16. "At present I see great possibilities for a. large trade in iur canned 1 goods if we can meet the prices of the United States and Eastern Canada markets. There is little doubt that if our merchants could get in touch with Vancouver buyers for the Yukon district the steamers which leave periodically for Yukon territory could carry cargoes of our canned meats, jams, and fruit into that territory." So opens the Teport which Mr J. Graham Gow has presented to the Government on his recent visit as trade representative to the Dominion of Canada. There is, Mr Gow states, an unquestionably good market for New Zealand mutton m "the. West of Canada, but before the trade could be properly estab'lished, a. direct service of refrigerator steamers from New Zealand' to Vancouver would be- necessary. The Jong. cold. windier makes sheep-raising in Canada impossible, and importers there state that the superior reputation of New Zealand over Australian mutton would earn fur it a great market in Canada. Mt Fry,_ manager of the cold storage works at Seattle, to whom.Mr Cow was introduced by Mill, A. Alley, states his intention of visiting New Zealand' to purchase mutton. At present he is importing Australian. A Calgary importer of Australian, mutton, for which, by the way, the steamer service is quite inadequate, is also prepared to take New Zealand canned goods and frozen mutton if they can meet competition, a condition which "will be conduced to by the great reduction in overland) freights, which, is expected to follow the completion of the Grand' Trunk Pacific coast to coast railway. The field in Western Canada, for manufactured goods from New Zealand is practically Jimit'lecss', audi when the many factories which are now- building in the west are completed, there will be an opening for a large quantity of our raw material. In Toronto there were many inquiries for New Zealand wools, and one firm of importers immediately proceeded to establish a buying branch'in New Zealand. At present a good, deal of New Zealand wool reaches Ontario by way of London. In the capital of the' Dominion (Ottawa) Mr Gow was well received by Sir Wilfrid I.aurier, and was greatly assisted by the Dairy Commissioner (Mr J. A. Ruddick). Scarcely a week passed when the Parliament of the Dominion was in session without some reference being made to New Zealand methods. Montreal is too remote j from Vancouver to be of any use to New Zealand except by means of a steamer service specially subsidised to run- to eastern ports. Tu any case, Toronto is the principal buying centre for raw material. Mr Gow considers Canada stands first and foremost amongst the colonies! in its possibilities as a New Zealand' market. He says: —"ilie demand for gOod articles in Canada is strong, and tjje people have the money to buy them, a.nd it is now the business of our Dominion to push ahead and get a shaTe of the general prosperity prevailing there. Canadian) merchants are anxious to do business with New Zealand, and would do all in their power to build up a trade under the reciprocal tariff. There is, however, an impression in Canada that when an, importer cables for quotations the New Zealanders think there is a rise, and as a consequence invariably quote a stiff price. To do satisfactory business with Canada it would be _ necessary to appoint responsible representatives there. One great oletacle to importing wool direct from New Zealand is the heavy freights 011 the Canadian-Pacific railway to Toronto. One. of the principal Toronto brokers has made an arrangement with the railway which will enable him to import direct, and the completion, of the Grand Trunk railway in) two years is expected to lead to a drop in freights. At present, owing to the competition of the imported article, 100 woollen .mills are closed down. The Canadian! Manufacturers' Association, which has very strong political influence, is urging the' Dominion Government to raise the duty on imported woollen goods. The moneymarket is very tight," When Mr Gow leftCanada many factories were closing down, but business men wore satisfied that the depression was of only a temporary nature. Mr Gow believes there are very mnny wealthy Canadians who could, be attracted to spend their holidays in New Zealand.