EMPIRE TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1930, Page 5

EMPIRE TRADE

CANADA DESIRES CLOSER RELATIONSHIP.

AUCKLAND, March 10.

Speaking in patriotic vein, Mr J. H. McDonald, representing the Canadian lumbermen at present touring the Dominion, kept Auckland Itotarians interested as he put in a fervent plea tor a closer trade' relationship. “It is time we had a stocktaking,” said Mr McDonald; Ave find that in four year you have increased your sales to Canada, eight times over and you have brought from us only 5 pei> cent. more. Timber is our chief exporting line to your shores and we find that while you have been importing less from us you have been increasing your imports from the United States. Yet our friends in the south charge voTi 7d a lb on any butter you send them compared with £d a lb if it comes to Canada.. Me admit your wool free to our land—in TJ.S.A. it races a duty of 17d per lb. Commenting on these facts Mr McDonald said they were asking for a definite preference for Canadian timber entering this Dominion. This was necessary to meet the shipping subsidies paid by the American Government to boost their timber exports. Dealing with the general questions of preference within the Empire, Mr .McDonald said that many Canadians had come to tire conclusion that Australia. New Zealand, Fiji, and the outlying islands should with Cnnada be more closely associated in all trade matters. This was necessary to help to pay war debts. If the grouping that was possible in the Pacific group of the British Empire was consummated, a big thing would have been achieved that might indeed act as a. lead for Downing Street in a wider movement for a ; bigger Imperial market pool. Attention was draw.n by the speaker to the fact that New Zealand butter was sent into Canada packed in Swedisn boxes. Such anomalies as this seemed to suggest that there was scope for mutual house-cleaning and a fresh start on botli sides. “We want to swap our timber for your butter.” said the speaker, as he urged the necessity ■ of conferences to bring about closer trading between the Pacific countries of the Empire.