CANADA’S DESIRE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1929, Page 5

CANADA’S DESIRE

FOR TRADE WITH DOMINIONS

United Press Association—By Electric

Telegraph—Copyngnt)

(Received this day at 11.25. a.m.) VANCOUVER, April ID. The earnest desire of Canadian business men. especially Hritish Columbians. to import more commodities I nun Australia and New Zealand, was emphasised by President W. ( . Woodward. of the Vancouver Board of Trad.* and other prominent business men. at a Conference to-day of representatives of tlu- Board , of T rade delegates from Australia /and New /(‘aland. attending the National Council of Education. Admitting that the trade balance rested with Canada, the speakers declared it was not altogether the lank of Canadians. Mr Woodward said the phychology of Canadians was to spend money within the Empire. FT. R. MacMillan said United States .studied Canadian market, conditions and gave them w’iii they wait ted. Canadians read Vnifed Stales advertisements. The consumer in any country rarely chose what he wished. ’ He .-might what was nut- before him. ; I suggest Australians should study our market conditions.” he added. Mr J. W. Eordham .Johnston said it was likely he could boost Australian exports to Canada by several millions. if given the opportunity. He said lie was anxious-to purchase Australian raw sugar, but in recent years he had not been offered any. He intimated he might he able to pay a higher price for raw material than was obtained on the English market. Air 8. P. I>. Malkin said there was a big market for Australian fruits, the (pmlity of which was unexcelled anywhere, if Australians would understand the marketing problem from Canadians viewpoint. Mr S. Bayiner and others suggested to Mr F. E. Hose (Secretary of the Liquor Control Board) that if the British Columbian Government were prepared to make less profit on Australian than Erotic,h wines, the Australian product would soon become popular in British Columbia. Australian delegates said they agreed that the proper way to develop the Canadian market was to -end men to study the situation. They proposed to see the Prime Minister (Mr Bruce) and the Premiers of the States, on their return.

ADVICE TO AUSTRALIA

FOR- CANADIAN TRADE

(Received this day at 12.25. p.m.)

VANCOUVER. April 10

Canadians are eager to buy Australian goods of quality and give them preference, as a matter of Empire sentiment. Vancouver importers and merchants arc ready and willing to go as far as they can in encouraging a market for Australian goods, but—and the but was made very plain—Australian manufacturers, producers and shippers must realise that it is up to tneniselvcs to sell their goods on the Canadian market. They must learn tn<* needs and requirements as to quality and package. Canadian methods of trade, above all, must at least assist in advertising here of their own wares. All this was stated on the Canadian side at the informal conference between Australian delegates, Educational Conference and leading members of the Vancouver Board of Trade.

On their side the Australians held that the necessity for a better acquaintance with the Canadian market was already being recognised. They instanced the appointment oi the Australian Trade Commissioner, but were reminded that the Commissioner cannot possibly do work that should be done by direct contact by firms seeking n market here and any day and any week there are forty American travellers in Vancouver industriously showing goods, and taking orders, and no trade commissioner could get in live years the information that representatives of American houses have at their fingertips, said 11. IL McMillan, leading timber exporter. He urged the beads oi Australian houses should come to Canada. look over the field and learn the needs and idiosyncrasies'ol the buying public, and determine for themselves the opportunities offered, ami then act on first-hand information obtained. There should he an intensive educational campaign toiling Canada ol Australian goods available.

The discussion centred lor a time, on the market for Australian wines. A suggestion Irom tlie Australian delegate that a price preference over other imported wines might readily result in Australia granting prelerence to Canadian timber and other products, was assented to by all delegates. Air |). H. Ross (Canadian Trade Commissioner in Australia) suggested that Hrilish Columbia and other Canadian Liquor Control Hoards might well lessen their prolit on Australian lines. This might encourage the Australian authorities to give further preference to Canadian timber. Air Fordham Johnston, mentioned in iin earlier message, is managing director of the British Columbia Sugar Tiefine ry. T)KI- FA• ATMS STATISTF.NT. (Received this dav at 1 ‘2.‘25. p.m.) VANCOCVKR. April 10. Speaking primarily as an educationalist. hut almost, with equal stress as an Australian. Sir Archibald Strong addressed the members of the Board of Trade to-day. Referring to the

morning tnido conference ns fclie first occasion on which Australians and Canadians had met to discuss trade and commerce, this suggested a principle which might well he extended with great advantage to the> whole Empire and carried even beyond matters of commerce. “If we are going to keep the great nful glorious British ICuipire what it is, we should know as much as possible of one another and keep steady contact.”. Me instanced the Asiatic expulsion policy in Australia as a misunderstanding within the Empire.” “Australia excludes Asiatics, not because they are hated or despised but to prevent tragedies common u> countries where there* are a great number of whites and colured people. 1 wish we could do something to dispel the ghastly lies told in some parts of the Empire about other parts. All Empire universities should remain true to the British ideal of freedom of opinion.”