MR COATES

Southland Times, Issue 20080, 18 January 1927, Page 5

MR COATES

TOUR. OF CANADA IMPROVED TRADE RELATIONSHIP BETTER PROSPECTS FOR NEW ZEALAND (Bj Telegraph —Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Rec. 8.45 p.m.) Vancouver, January 16. Satisfaction with the results of his discussions with the Premier, Mr MacKenzie King, regarding legislation to bring New Zealand and Canada into closer trade relations, was expressed by Mr Coates on his arrival at Toronto from Ottawa. He said that there was a genuine desire on the part of the dominions to promote trade between them. He believed that business men of his country would move out after it from now on, his Government doing .all in its power to help. The appointment of a Trade Commission to Canada would now be considered. Mr Coates spent the day visiting Niagara Falls and inspecting hydro-electric plants. On the subject of Empire defence, Mr Coates stated that his country was doing all possible to help Great Britain bear the burden of naval expenditure. One result of the Imperial Conference, he said, was the strengthening of the bonds connecting the dominions which would insure solidarity of Empire. Mr Coates was entertained at dinner by Lieutenant-Governor Ross and to-morrow (Monday) he will address the Canadian Club. INTER-DOMINION TRADE AGREEMENT. PRELIMINARY NEGOTIATIONS. Ottawa, January 14. Mr. Coates lunched with the Prime Minister, Mr. Mackenzie King, to-day, and was the guest of the Government at a dinner at night. It is hoped that the preliminaries to a trade agreement between New Zealand and Canada will be reached during Mr. Coates’s visit, and it is believed that New Zealand will later send a delegation to Ottawa to discuss trade relations further, and possibly conclude a definite agreement.—A. and N.Z.