TRADE WITH CANADA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20952, 15 February 1930, Page 9

TRADE WITH CANADA.

IMPROVED FREIGHT SERVICES. . CANADIAN VISITOR’S IMPRESSIONS. /With the.,object of discussing the question of 'shipping services between Canada and New Zealand, and the general conditions of trade between the two dominions, Mr R. B. Teakle, general managerof Canadian National Steamships and representatives of the Canadian National Railways, arrived in Dunedin last evening from the north. He reached- Auckland recently from Vancouver, arid-is ■ inspecting, the various •branches of the Canadian National Steamships, which at present maintains a monthly cargo service between Eastern Canada'and the principal New Zealand ports.

When .interviewed by a Daily Times representative last night Mr Teakle said he was not a railway expert, but he had travelled widely both in the British Ejnpire and in America. It seemed to him that the , Dominion’s railway difficulties, had bebn ably taken in hand, so that by patience the department would achieve what it desired. '

.“ This is’ my. first visit ;to 1 New Zea-: ]and,”'said Mr Teakle, “and from what I have seen ! have' been greatly.impressed. Apart from the general interests of bur company,'l count this an opportunity to; return the visit of the many-New iZealand business men • who have visited Canada, or who have made a call on the way to or from England and abroad.”

“My visit to New Zealand' combines two purposes,” : said Mr Teakle. “ I "want to investigate railway facilities, as Vwell as steamer services; especially in with our own .freight services, .with a view to further trade, develop-; .mentis between Canada and New Zealand. ,I want to find- out exactly what the' poai.tion is’ to get to know the'people on the -spot, and to see if we cannot do better both for the people.'of New Zealand and .for ourselves in .Canada. . ' We, have, at .present five steamers operating between .Canada and New Zealand, but we arc prepared to employ additional steamers fas soon as the business offering warrants .it. lam impressed with the possibilities of New Zealand in the future, and I look 'forward to closer trade relationships between the " two countries. s'’ 5 '’

Mr Teable said ’that Canadian National - Steamships 4 and Canadian National - Railways, which are governed by the same chairman , and board of directors, have been operating between New Zealand and Eastern- Atlantic ports of - Canada for nine years in freight services. : -It was planned'to' improve; these'services, together with - others- on the North' Pacific, on the coast of British .Columbia. • "The Canadian National Railways system is'the largest in America,”'‘■aid Mr Teakle'. "Over half of the 40 J miles of railway in Canada is operated by National Railways, .which..- are always steadily improving their service. It is naturally in the interests of the company to'encourage 1 the tourist traffic from Eng‘land.tq'. New- Zealand . through Canada, ?\and in--this respect it receives- the assistance . of' the- 'New Zealand .-.Government , Publicty Departments The jurist -traffic through Canada is growing every year.,;' “During this year the-National Steani•ships Company -will be -putting into commission three new steamers on the British -'.Columbia; coast. • They are being constructed on the most modern lines for pas. 'senger transport. Their .completion will give a total of eight vessels operating: for such service on the North Pacific coast. T-may say that just'a year ago we'started -•ffive passenger- vessels- turming between Atlantic ports-and the British j 'West Indies. These ships have been named in compliment to,five British ad* dpnirals prominent in 'and around the Wert They are the Lady Lady ;;flawldns t Lady' Drake, ,-Ladyf Somers, and ;/the Lady Rodney. * They have been speci'ally built for tropical climes, and in the ■ short- time they have been in Commission ‘have-proved so popular that we are quite regarding their particular •trade. - ■ ; ■

• “The steamer service between New Zealand and -the Atlantic coast of Canada is •proving highly satisfactory/' Mr Teakle •said. “ I do not wish to discuss publicly .questions of reciprocal trade between the two dominions, but : I yvill. say that, our .boats never return to Halifax or Montreal empty. .There is a market for New Zealand products in Canada, and I believe that there is also’.a very fine market 'for Canadian goods in New Zealand;” Mr Teakle has been through the North Island, including the Waikato district, and has seen some of the dairy factories. He considers them wonderful, for the conditions under which the butter is made are so good that nobody should, have any hesitation in accepting it at face value. 'Outstanding, in his opinion, as scenic resorts are the thermal regions, Waitomo, and the Chateau Tongariro. , . "You"have in your scenic resorts something of considerable value, not only to yourselves, but to the rest of the world, 'and asf the Dominion's publicity is good*— our-steamers ■ carry New. Zealand advertising matter —you have every 'inducement to offer t 6 all the world to come to the country for a holiday. Although I am here on business, I want to get some pleasure out of tbe trip, and I am, seeing as much as I can.” Mr Teakle' said he welcomed the appointment of Mr J, W. Collins, secretary of the Department of .Industries and Commerce, as New Zealand’s first trade commissioner in Canada. At the Toronto Exhibition Mr Collins had become very ■popular with- Canadians,- and- had gained their confidence. He would have to d°. pioneering work, and perhaps it would not be wise to look for results too soon. However, he. was certain that Mr Collins was the right man for the position, and that his presence in Canada would be of great benefit to New Zealand. ' Sir Teakle, who is accompanied by Mrs Teakle, and Mr F. G. Wood, assistant manager in New Zealand for the Canadian -National Railways and Canadian National i Steamships,' will leave on Monday morning for Invercargiir and Bluff. He will then *visit Queenstown, the Hermitage, and Timaru. From the'latter place Mr Teakle will proceed to' Wellington, and will later ;proceed to Australia, China, and Japan, visiting branches of the two Canadian companies- on his way.