WITHIN THE EMPIRE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16923, 11 April 1929, Page 8

WITHIN THE EMPIRE

CANADIAN TRADE POLICY NEW ZEALAND’S OPPORTUNITY AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE. sElec.Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) (Received April 11, 1 p.m.) VANCOUVER., April 10. Canadians are eager to buy Australian and New Zealand goods of quality, ami give I hem preference as a matter in Empire seat-mienl. Vancouver impor tins and mer.duims are ready and willing to go as far as they can in eneoiir aging the market for Australian goods, hut —and the hut was made very plain — Australian manufacturers, producers and shippers must realise that il is up to themselves to sell their goods on the Canadian market. -They must learn the needs and requirements as to quality ant; package, and Canadian methods of trade, and above all must at least assist in tin advertising here of their own wares. A 1 this was stated on the Canadian side of an informal conference between Australian delegates to the Educational Conference and leading members of the Vancouver Hoard of Trade. On iheii side, tho Australians held that the necessity for better acquaintance with the Canadian market was already being recognised. 'they instanced the appointment of the Australian Trade Com missioner, but were reminded that a corn missioner cannot possibly do work that should he done by direct contact hv the firms seeking the market here, and that any day of any week there are 40 Ameri-can-travellers in Vancouver industriously showing goods and taking orders that no trade commissioner could get in- five years, and getting information that rep resent-alives of American houses keep at their linger tips. EDUCATION A L CAMPAIGN.

Mr. 11. R. MacMillan, a leading limber exporter, urged that tho heads of Australian houses should come to Canada, look over the field, and learn the needs and idiosyncrasies of the buying public, and determine for themselves the opportunities offered, and then act on the firsthand information obtained. ’There should be an intensive educational' cam paign, telling Canada of the Australian goods available. Discussion centred for a time oil the market fur Australian wines. A suggestion from an Australian delegate that tinprice preference over other imported wines might readily result in Australia granting a preference to Canadian timber and other products, was assented to by all ddi'egiitos. Mr. lb 11. Ross, .Canadian Trade Com missioner in Australia, suggested that the British Columbia and other Canadian liquor control hoards might well lessen their profit on Australian wines. This might, encourage the. Australian authorities to give further preference to Canadian timber.

The earnest desire of Canadian businessmen, especially British Columbians, to import more commodities from Australia and New Zealand, was emphasised by the president, Mr. W. C. Woodward, of the Vancouver Board of Trade, and other prominent business men. Admitting that the trade balance rested with Canada, speakers declared Dial if was not altogether the fault of Canadians. Mr. Woodward said the psychology of Canadians was to spend money within the Empire. PROSPECTIVE M ARK RTS. Mr. 11. It. MacMillan said the United States studied Canadian market conditions and gave them what they wanted. Canadians read United States advertisements. The consumer in any country rarely chose what lie wished. He bought what was put before him. “I suggest that Australians should study our market conditions,” he added. Mr. ,T. W. Ford haul Johnston, who is managing director of a British Columbia sugar refinery, said it wa ‘ likely that he could boost Australian exports to Canada by several millions if given an opportunity. He said he was anxious to purchase Australian raw sugar, but in recent years lie had not been offered any. He admitted that he might he able to pay a higher price for the vjiw iniiterhil tliun oh-tnin-od on the English market. Mr. S. P. D. Malkin said there was a big market for Australian fruits, the quality of which was unexcelled anywhere, if Australians would understand the marketing problem from the Canadian viewpoint. Mr. S'. Bavmor and others suggested to Mr. F. E. Hose, secretary of the Liquor Control Board, that if the. British Columbian Government was prepared to rnako less profit on Australian than French wine the Australian product would soon become popular in British Columbia. Australian delegates said they agreed that the proper way to develop the Canadian market was to send men to sludv the situation. They proposed to see the Prime Minister, Mr. Bruce, and the Premiers of the States on their return. INTER-EMPIRE CONFERENCES Speaking primarily us an educationalist, but almost with equal stress as an .Australian, Sir Archibald Strong addressed members of the Board of Trade to-dav, referring to the morning’s trade conference as the first occasion on which Australians and Canadians had met: to discuss trade and commerce. This suggested a principle which might well be extended with great advantage to the whole Empire, and carried even beyond matters of commerce. “If we are going to keep this great and glorious British Empire what it is we should know as much as possible of one another, and keep steady contact,’’ ho said. He instanced the Asiatic exclusion policy in Australia as a misunderstanding within the Empire. Australia excludes Asiatics, not because they are hated, or despised, but to prevent the tragedies common in countries where there arc a great number of whites and colored peoples,” lie said “I wish we could do/ something to dispel the ghastly lies told in some parts of the Empire about other parts. All Empire universities should remain true to the British ideal of freedom of opinion.”