THE CANADIAN TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1491, 13 July 1912, Page 8

THE CANADIAN TRADE.

..POSITION OF AUSTRALIA. Referring to the question of reciprocal trade with Canada which has recently been taken up by the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, tho "Daily Telegraph" says it stands to'reas'on that if Australia's lost butter trade with Canntla could'be recap-tured'an'd-expanded (as it could - if Australia did not labour under a tariff disability), it woqld gi,ve the Australian producer another string* to'his market bow, and relievo stocks at a time of the year when 'London usually offers least inducement to ship. It has to be remembered that this trade with Canaflri was originally developed from Sydney, and it would be a very material factor in the autumn market had not New Zealand been placed at an advantage by. the reciprocity between the two' Dominions,' and thus enabled to capture the trade from Now South Wales. In. 1909 tho'.butter exports from' Sydney to Vancouver amounted in value to £IS,■000. iThe next yenr the trade increased to ■£27,000, but in 1911 "it dropped to .£9BOO. This latter abnormal decrease was caused by the Canadian-Australian* steamers,- the only line running between Canada and Australia,, making Xew Zealand n. port of-call, aiid under.the. subsidy New Zealand exporters obtained practically a monopoly-of.-the refrigerated • space. Havihg a reciprocal tariff arrangement, ■ too, New Zealand exporters only pay Uα., per lb. import duty, as against 2d. paid under the general - tariff-"which is the' rate that;applies' to, Australia. The Western Canadian demand for butter has been increasing solidly, for the.reason that thoir production lias -not. kept-pace with the .advance in.population. During the year 'ended March; 1311,.butter to the value of .EG5,000 wasimpoTted via Vancouver. During the suceeedinT year * the imports increased enormously, the value of. butter from .New Zealand, alone during the period from .November, .inclusive representing a veiue of .1)140,000. •It is. very plain from these figure?, says (he.-."Telegraph,"-.that New South* Wales has suffered a big loss in the slipping away .'"of such an extensive and growing trade. This is all tho more regrettable from the fact that in connection with export to London if is frequently difficultto get space..during March. April, and May on account: of the heavy shipments of fruit from the -southern States. Another -ovorsea' market at that period would consequently relieve the congestion and ;at the same lime, under normal conditions, offer better prices. These ties.' * tobi . are not confined to butter alone, as there is a considerable market in Vancouver.foi\ btlier frozen produce, notably nieat, bacon, pork, and fruit. .The "Department'of 'Agricnlture has demonstrated, that there are excellent opportunities ..for the Sale of citrus fruit, especially lemon?/ ait prices -that are highly payable at a time when pur markets are oyer-supplicd. But in the'matter of mishing for the trade. New Zealand hits left us in the rear,-and is reaping the reward of our pioneering.