VANCOUVER SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 937, 3 October 1910, Page 6

VANCOUVER SERVICE.

DOMINION AS PLACE OF CALL,

Some interesting observations. upon the decision of the Canadian Government to have a port of call in New Zealand for the new Vancouver mail contract, were made by Mr. \V. A. Beddoe, the Canadian Trade Commissioner to New Zealand, when interviewed by an Auckland Herald representative on Thursday last. ' .

' 'I have," said Mr. Beddoe, "made a report upon the subject to the Canadian Government, and' while I cannot disclose the contents of it, I-may say that T am keenly alive to the necessity for an improved mail servico between New Zealand and Canada. Between New Zealand and Canada there exist' reciprocal preferential trade relations, as a complement to which Canada has a subsidised line of steamers trading from Montreal to New Zealand. It is therefore only ordinary commercial prudence to provide, in making a new mail contract for a service more in conformity with tho new <. commercial conditions. It docs not seem reasonable to methnt Canada should exclude New Zealand from preference in regard to the mail service, and should give such preference to Australia, which does not open her markets to us upon the same terms as we enjoy from New Zealand. Under the new arrangement. If the telegram appearing in this morning's paper from Sir Wilfred Laurier to Sir Joseph Ward states the position correctly,. Australia will get her mail as quickly as heretofore* but Now Zealand will get her mail by the same vessel ten days earlier. Tho new route apparently will be'from Vancouver to Honolulu,' Fiji, Auckland, and Sydney, and possibly other Australian ports, but in any event there will bo a port of call in New Zealand.

"New Zealand under the new service," proceeded Mr. Beddqe, "will have an opportunity of trading' with ' the western coast of Canada in frozen mutton, canned meats, and dairy produce, all of which enter Canada at a lower rate th'an Australian products of a similar character. There is no reason, also", why Canada should not buy; hides, skins, wool, and gum direct from New Zealand, instead <of purchasing, as she now does,.hides and wool from Great Britain and gum .from San Francisco.' In this, connection it is interesting to note the expansion l of trade relations which has taken- place between .New Zealand and Canada since the inauguration of the Montreal subsidised steamers. That service was. inaugurated on May 20, and since then there' have been five sailings. The last three steamers ' which left Montreal (the Wakanui, which will leavo Sydney for Auckland tomorrow, the Tokomaru, and the Turkis-tan)-are all loaded to their fullest capac-. ity. In fact, one of them, I am told, left 400 tons of cargo behind. When this is so _ it .will be seen that it is only. a question of time when we must either have larger boats on that run ,or make arrangements fc?r a three-weekly' service. I have.no doubt'that when the Vancouver vessels trade directly. with New Zealand, without necessitating transhipment, the reciprocal trade, between New Zealand and Western Canada will grow rapidly. As it is now-you cannot sell'to. the Pacific-Coast-because you.have no direct shipment, but that will be remedied shortly...

•'. "I desire to point out," said the Canadian • Commissioner,. in conclusion, "that Canada recognises that it is always an important factor in international trade, that the country which-sells should also be a purchaser." In the present case the Canadian and New Zealand Governments are very, friendly. ■ The countries enjoy a preferential tariff together, and each wants what the other has -to sell. Canada has provided large, refrigerating boats-.'to, carry'her products, to'. , these shores, leaving them available- for the,return, trip, : when' New.; Zealand' awakes to the situation,' and : we, are now about to enter' upon', a very ■• desirable mail -.service; all of which'should conduce-to ,a. rapid expansion of mutual trade \" relations." - .'. • "■■ -.",, I . ■■' \v ';: .