SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8953, 12 June 1907, Page 3

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

INTERVIEWED AT PERTH. i United Press Association — By Electric Telegraph. — Copyright. (Received June 12. 8.50 a.m.) PERTH, June 12. Sir Joseph Ward ©ays: — " It is undeniable that there is a great want of knowledge concenTiing the position «t the self-governing dominions and the development that is taking place iv them. CANADA'S PUSHFULNESS. " I must say that Canada, to some extent, should be excepted, for the reason that she has made advertising an art. She advertises wherever heir representatives are to be foujid und makes a display of what Canada hae to offer in the way of laud attractions and employment for workers in a manner which is extremely successful. For instance, I visited the, Dublin Exhibition, where Canada had a separate court, which was fitted up in such a- way that visitors had before them a realistic presentation of the wheat fields and. dairying land, with cattle grazing on the farm. As an outcome of Canada's puettifulness I saw three or four steamers laden with human freight leave England and Scotland for Canada. The Dominion is better known in England than any other of the self-governing colonies. Its comparative nearnees to England is also a factor in keeping it before the eyes of the British people, although. I must in justice to our representatives say that they sp'aire no pains to keep their countries before the public; yet our expenditure in advertising is very small indeed compared wrfch that of Canada. THE BRITISH PEOPLE'S FEAR OF PREFERENCE. "The Britusn people fear that preference vrill raise the price of commodities to tne consumer, but in my opinion the rivalry between the colonies for the Home market would keep prices at a fair level. One difficulty in the way of preference is the belief that Qanada, Australia and New Zealand could not supply sufficient wheat to take the place of that at present imported into Great Britain from Ruesia, America and other countries ; but I believe that Canada and Australia alone could in a short time, if they had tihe certainty of the market, more tifoan supply the requirements. However, under the circumstances, it was impossible to- carry out preferential proposals at the recent Conference, but I can hope for better things from the next. THE MAIL SUBSIDY. " With reference to the mail subsidy I advocated an improv<xl AtlanticPacific service across Canada to New Zealand and Australia. My view was that we should aim at a twenty-day service between New Zealand and London — four days across the Atlantic, four days aorosa Canada, and twelve days across the Pacific to New Zealand. It is quite a common thing for a steamer to travel between London and America at twenty-one or twenty-two knots. I hold that the same speed oculd be maintained between Vancouver, New Zealand and Australia provided that the countries concerned were prepared to pay a subsidy large enough to induce the owners of the class of steamer mentioned to take up the trade. It would necessitate a subsidy of about £400,000 a yeaT, and although it is a large sum it could be borne if divided proportionately between the countries concerned." PROSPECTS OF THE "ALL RED" SERVICE. Asked whether such a service would not interfere with the Suez Canal service, Sir Joseph replied: "My opinon is that it would not. The service I advocate would cause an increase of traffic. Wherever great steamer facilities lor passenger traffic have been provided theey have resulted in such an enormous increase of trade that instead of injuring existing lines they have caused the establishment of additional lines to cope with the traffic. This has been the experience in tlie Atlantic trade, where, of course, there is a large population at the end of the line. We in Australasia must look forward to a large increase of population in years to come, and by establishing the most up-to-date passenger service we would be doing much to attract immigrants to our shores. So far as New Zealand is concerned we will leave nothing undone to establish such a service.