RECIPROCAL TRADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15063, 9 February 1911, Page 7

RECIPROCAL TRADE

CANADA AND AMEBICA.

STATEMENT BY SIR WILFRID

LAURIEU

Press Association—By Tolegraph—Copyright

' _ OTTAWA, February 7. Sir W. Laurier informed Parliament that the representations of the fruitgrowers, lumbermen, and others affected by reciprocity would bo heard before Parliament was asked to pass tho measure. This concession, however, is deemed to be useless, as the agreement cannot be altered except by a new arrangement with the United States.

Mr Rudyard K : pling, writing to a Canadian correspondent, says that he is more worried than he likes to say about reciprocity. It seems to him like a whole battalion of coloured persons in a wood pile.

CAUCUS OF DEMOCRATS.

AGREEMENT APPROVED.

WASHINGTON, February 7. . A resolution endowing the reciprocity agreement with Canada was carried at the caucus of Democratic members of the House of Representatives,

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS.

LONDON, February 7. In tho course of a speech in the House of Lords Lord Lansdowne said tho reciprocity agreement between Canada and America would mean a diminution of the opportunities for preferential trade.

Earl Crewe, in replying, said ho had unbounded faith in tho loyalty of Canada, which would do nothing to weaken the ties that bound her to the Motherland.

REMOVING MISUNDERSTANDING.

STATEMENT BY MR FIELDING.

LONDON, February 8. (Received Feb. 8, at 9.5 p.m.) The Hon. Mr Fielding (Canadian Minister of Finance) has cabled a statement to Lord Strathcona for tho purpose of rectifying misapprehensions by English •politicians and the newspapers. He says that reciprocity with the United State's Ims been the policy of all the Canadian parties for generations, including Sir J. A. MacDonnell's party in 1879. The unwillingness of the United States to make a reasonable agreement led to much disappointment. America has now changed her attitude, and has approached Canada with a fair offer. The. Canadian .Government believes in promoting relations with tho neighbouring Republic,, and is doing its best for the service of the Empire. The fears that the agreement will affect British imports aro groundless. It deals mainly with natural products which Britain does not send to Canada. Few of the manufacturers are affected. While the reduction is small, Britain will in overy case enjoy tho same- rate or a lower one. Mr Fielding adds that a further revision of the tariff is probable, wherein Canada will bo entirely free to fix British preference.

VIEWS OF THE TIMES.

LONDON, February 7.

The Times disagrees with Mr Asquith that tho Canadian agreement is inevitable. It says that Canada has during late years developed a national lite of her own, and has been drawing apart from and not nearer tho United States. Tho only circumstances which might have made tho agreement inevitable were America's necessity for increased food supplies. It must be remembered that there are other dominions besides Canada, and that the desire- for preference in the Empire is

general,

CANADIAN MILLERS' PROTEST.

OTTAWA, February 8. (Received Feb. 9, at 1.10 a.m.) Tho Canadian, millers denounce the

reciprocity agreement.

A British Columbian Minister asserted in the local Legislature that the graingrowers' frcetradc movement in the Canadian west was largely financed by an American railroad magnate. The graingrowers protest that the statement is foundationless. The Minister explains that he merely mentioned that such a report was current in the west of the United States.