TRADE WITH CANADA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1589, 5 November 1912, Page 3

TRADE WITH CANADA.

COMMISSIONER AT NAPIER, "You may ask; 'Why is Canada a market for New Zealand?'" said Mr. Beddoe, Trade Commissioner for Canada, in an address delivered at Napier on . Friday. In regard to ope item of New Zealand produce alone—butter—he quoted figure's to show that the export of butler from Canada had dwindled almost to vanishing point, at the'same time pointing out that butter from New Zealand enters Canada under the preferential tariff,' He also referred to Australia's objection . to New Zealand being made a port'of call, in connection with the Vancouver service, and Canada's insistence on the point. Butter and frozen meat could.be sent to Canada from New Zealand via Vancouver, and in regard to Canada's rapidly-diminishing oxporfc of butter ho pointed out that her population was growing very rapidly—last year to the extent $$ .700,000 :people—and it must be remembered'that these people were Dot butter producers, but.l>uttor consumers, as in the wheat-growing country to which.they wero'going they could have but few-dairy cattle. In 19X0. New Zealand shipped to Canada' 2958 ' boxes of butter, , and from October, 1911, until October 25, 11)12, the total shipment was 72,923 boxes, while he understood that applications had been made to tho shipping companies fflr space for 120,000 boxes during the current year. Canada's system of buying butter, moreover, was not like that followed in sending it to ..England— the consignment system—on which a seller did not know exactly what h<y was going to get for it. When Canada bought butter the money ivas in tho bank, and before the steamer had well cleared . the North Head the shippers were paid. The demand for cheese also in 1 Canada was growing greater and the exports less, although the actual manufacture was greater than over. This fact ivas also accounted for I by the rapidly-i'ncreasing population. He had nothing to do with arranging spate in steamers; he was in this country to Sell Canadian goods New Zealand. But • when Canada wiis providing suitable boats lie felt it his duty to point out to New Zealand the possibilities of trade. Dealing with the possibilities in the ex-' portation of frozen mutton from New Zealand to Canada, Mr; Beddoe referred to the wonderful grazing land in this coun- . try, and pointed out that Canada, with a population of eight million, had only 2,500,000 sheep, while New Zealand, with a population of one million, holds '24,000,000 sheep. Australian mutton, he said, is sent to Canada, via Vancouver, and enters under the general tariff, but not a.carcass of New Zealand mutton is sent, although, under the preferential J tariff, _jt-would have an. advantage of $d. per lb. He certainly could see no reason why New Zealand muttoii .should not be shipped to Vancouver. New • Zealand is reaping the benefit of Australia's' antagonistic attitude, which means that Australia can now ship no butter to Canada and can only ship her mutton at the disadvantage of id. per lb. as compared with New Zealand. j