The Guardian And Evening Star, with winch is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1930. CANADA’S FUTURE.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 June 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with winch is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 1930. CANADA’S FUTURE.

The war may he said to have given Canada her majority, for it was that great upheaval that gave her recognition as a lul[ grown man in the family ol the British Empire, albeit we speak ol the “sister’’ dominions. Great Britain, says an exchange, may well he proud of her Canadian offspring, lor sue)) rapid and sound progress shows that the foundations were well and truly laid. There are some

wiio view witli apprehension this impressive growth, regarding it .as of not altogether I'a vourablc augury in relation to the maintenance of the solidarity of the British Commonwen 111). There are considerations that might seem to give strength to this view, namely, the proximity of the United States and the natural line of communication from north to south, the amount of America,u capital invested in the dominion, the great preponderance of American trade over British, and the gradual assimilation of American customs and speech.

While these facts may appear to in-

dicate that Canada’s destiny lies away liom that of Groat. Britain, acceptance oi that conclusion must mean a discounting V those British qualities tJiat- have been responsible for bringng (anada to her present position. On the other nand, most of tlie American newspapers refer to “the province of Canada” as if it were some small detached part of the States to the norPh'life .ignorance ;of Canadian affairs displayed by these papers is (ften amazing, suggesting that little, U any, thoiignt has ever been given to the Americanisation of Canada. Mr 1 erey Hurd, M.P. firmly assures us tliat although tbe manifest destiny of the country is Canadian it is also British. 'J he freedom given the dominions to control their own destines no construes as strength to the Empire. file importance of the Canadian I acific Kail way not only from a commercial but also from an Empire point ot view, can. scarcely be overestimated. It can readily be seen mat this railway lias been responsible for the country’s westward development and that it links up the greater part ot the inhabited country. With the erection oi the Amer can tariff wall against Canadian goods the C.P.R. is hound to assume further impel tance. i’ rom the point of view of Empire unity Canada. is divided into live sections. Quebec, which was founded over three hundred years ago, lias undergone tew radical changes! The Ereiieii-Canadians, comprising almost one-L-hird of the country’s population of nine millions, are contented and unannntious. Ciiinging jealously to the ispec.al rights of their province and the customs of their forefathers, the inhabitants of the province stand firm by the British North American Act by which Quebec retains a privileged position in the Canadian fedoration of provinces, Any thought oi secession from this matter would be remote, British Columbia has been settled largely by Englishmen; Ontario, the industrial centre of the Dominion, was founded by Empire loyalists who left tlie Uniled States in their thousands at the conclusion of the American War of Independence; but it is in the maritime provinces, chiefly Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and in the prairie provinces, settled mostly by people from Northern Europe and tiie United States, that the element of unrest is greatest. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are by nature some"'iiat closely allied to tlie New England States and would profit greatly were they absorbed into the United States and thereby he free from the tariff wall at present acting to their detriment. There are a few other general factors to be considered. Tlie political and legal institutions of tlio dominion follow closely those of England, inter-Empire trade propaganda has received a very favourable reception in Canada, and the era of wireless communication upon which we are entering will undoubtedly strengthen Empire ties. That every member .of the British Commonwealth of Nations is bound to develop on different lines, in keeping with different geographical and climatic conditions, must be roeognised, Canada’s rigorous climate will ensure the deveopment of a hardy and enterprising people and the prevention oi a colour problem such as exists in tbe United States, Recent news I rom Vancouver informs us that the United States Senate has passed a Bill imposing a duty on Canadian lumber thereby depriving Canada of trade to the value of ten million dollars. Un the same day the House of Commons at Ottawa passed the second reading of a Bill to deny export clearance iQ vessels carrying liquor to the United States. The Trade relations between the two countries are decidedly strained, find Canada lias retaliated by diverting a large portion m her trade to Great Britain. At tlio present time Canadian sentiment is firmly British.