AUSTRALIAN TRADE

Southland Times, Issue 20786, 29 May 1929, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN TRADE

FIELD IN CANADA

IMPROVEMENT UNDER AGREEMENT THE BUTTER QUESTION (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) Vancouver, May 27. Mr R. A. Haynes, commercial representative for Australia, addressing the Canadian Club said: “The bald figures of the total of Australian trade with Canada do not disclose what underlies them. One item, sugar, makes all the difference in the world to the trade we have done with you. Take this item out of the- total and we find that under the trade agreement Australia started trade under the new conditions with a total of 119,000 dollars worth of goods being sold in Canada annually. In the third year of the agreement these items reached an aggregate of 1,500,000 dollars, and in the current year there will be a further increase in meat,- canned fruits, gelatine and other items. Thanks to the agreement Australia has captured the market for currants and is gradually establishing trade in sultanas. Already this season Canada has bought twice as much as she bought in 1927. Frost in California has given us the opportunity of selling canned peaches. In 1927 the total sales of Australian produce to Canada amounted to 400,000 dollars. Last year the figure was 5,800,000 dollars. That, however, is only sufficient to place Australia on a parity with Switzerland. Your sales to Australia have received a set-back recently, but are double what they were twenty years ago. They can be increased by proper merchandizing.” Referring to the contentious question of the sale of Australian butter in Canada, the speaker said: “Can I make it clear that Australia does not want to injure Canadian dairying or any other industry? If your costs are increased by local conditions it is not for me to make suggestions; only I must feel disappointed that something which does not affect our selling price to you in any degree precludes our selling you more than 216 tons of butter in a year when your total importations exceed 6000 tons. —Australian Press Association—United Service.