RECIPROCITY WITH CANADA.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1542, 11 September 1912, Page 7

RECIPROCITY WITH CANADA.

AN AUSTRALIAN. MISSION;.-, ,-. Sy Teleeraph—Press Association—Copyright Ottawa, September 9. Sir v George Reid, Australian High Commissioner in London, is consulting Mr. Foster, Canadian Ministor for Trade and Customs, and other members of the Government, with the idea of bringing about closer trade relations between.Canada and' Australia. ■~-.'.-■ Sir George Reid, addressing the Canadian Club, dealt with Australia's great future, and the need for consolidation of the Empire. Mr. Rogers, Minister for the Interior, is entertaining Sir George Reid during ' 'his stay in Ottawa.. CANADIAN TRADE PROGRAMME. \ ' Mt. Foster, Canadian Minister for 1 Trade and Commerce, in an address to the Montreal Board of Trade recently, stated that the Government hoped by next year to, have preferential trade arrangements with the Indies,: Australia, and New Zealand, thus completing the preferential trade arrangements of Canada with, the rest of the Empire. He said this was on a reciprocal basis,in every, part of the Empire, except Great Britain, which gave Canada no return for her preferential treatment. He announced ■ that the energetic action of his department was increasing trade, .but pointed out that during the last ton years the balance of trade had sprung from 4,000,000 dollars excess of ■exports over imports to an excess of 227,000,000 dollars of imports over exports, a condition which he considered unfortunate and demanding attention. Mr. Foster outlined a policy of meeting the. Boards of Trade all over the Dominion, and conferring with them as to the best means of holding the trade of . Canada, and increasing it, especially so as to prevent Canadian exports being made through the United States' ports. In this connection he pointed out that tho exports of grain through Montreal had decreased in proportion to production. ■ the i balance going via Boston and Portland. He asked the Montreal Board of Trade to appoint a committee to confer with- him with li view to finding out what was necessary to secure Canada's trade to the St. Lawrence route, and especially if it were possible to work so as to obtain a reduction of the insurance rates, which are now arbitrarily fixed at a point much higher than for most American ports, which militates against Canadian trade.