A CANADIAN VISITOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13845, 7 March 1907, Page 7

A CANADIAN VISITOR.

IMPRESSIONS OF NEW ZEALAND, (Fnoit Ofr Own Cobbesposdent.) n , it March 6. Colonel Jarvis, of the Canadian Department ot Agriculture, is returning to his own country after a month's holiday iu Aew Zealand. Yesterday ho had an interview with tho Minister of Agriculture. ~ln conversation with a member of the Post staff ho remarked that he had been greatly struck since his arrival in Auckland with the air of solid prosperity (hat seemed to him to exist right through the colony. The cities appeared to be eolid and progressivo, Wellington in particular. The Empire City's business buildings and lino wharves greatly impressed Colonel Jarvis. 110 is o£ opinion that there is room for improvement in the trade relations between Canada and New Zealand, and points out that 1 lie Americans make nothing that tho Canadians cannot and do not make. It should also be borne in mind by tho sister colonies that Canada is part of tho one Empire, even as New

Zealand island Canadians aro making a very bold bid for trade within tho Empire. Japan and China have long been recognised by the far-seeing Canadians as possessing possible valuable markets, and in this connection Colonel Jarvis repeated an interesting story of how a market was secured in Japan. When the famine was at its heightjn that Eastern land an offer of help by the Canadian Government was accepted. Some 50,000d0l worth of wheat in bags weighing perhaps 501b each were put up. Oil each bag, printed in red, in Japanese, were tho words, " Donation from the.Canadian Government." Inside each bag was a card, upon which was printed, also in Japanese, full and explicit instructions for making broad, also a couplc of packets of yeast. This enterprise mot with due reward. Canada is now building up a very big trade in wheat with Japan, where rico is llie slaplo food. A lot of butler is being sent to Japan, too, and the Japanese seem to be acquiring quite a liking for that commodity, 110 remarked that while Canada had much it would like to show Australians and New Zealanders, there was much of interest for Canadians to see iu these.colonics. 'Without wishing to appear discourteous, he could not help noticing that we suffered from the lack of tho veallv good travelling facilities that might have been expected in a community that seemed so progressive, lie was also somewhat surprised at tho comparatively slow progress of our railroad undertakings. When he was told o£ the time occupied on some of lliem Iw could not help comparing them with tho construction of a 2500-inile lino in Canada. 700 miles of it over exceptionally difficult country full oE engineering difficulties, a task that was completed in five years. He presumed that those in authority responsible liere had their reasons for tho methods adopted, but ho questioned tho wisdom of tho policy.