BACK FROM CANADA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 134, 24 October 1912, Page 7

BACK FROM CANADA.

A BUSINESS MAX'S IMPRESSIONS. Mr. George MacEwan, of the firm of J. B. MacEwan and Go. has returned, to Dunedin from a visit to Canada. He wag asked by a Star reporter to detail his impressions of the big Dominion. BUTTER AND CHEESE. As far as Vancouver is concerned," he opened, "it looks as if there is going to be a big trade between New Zealand and there in butter. The merchants were all very keen on getting all the information they could, and those who had sent to New Zealand for information infoimed me that they had readily obtained such, and were well catered for generally by exporters here. Further east, at Montreal, I was informed by an expoi ter that no butter was being shipped out of Canada this year, but was being stored for local requirements. Another merchant stated that in his opinion Canada, a export of cheese would be very small, because of the large numbers t '.f people going to Alberta and Saskatchewan. These drew the surplus supplies of cheese and butter from the east. Mr. MacEwan thought, however, that this latter estimate was a little overstated. "I believe," lie continued, "that their local trade in butter and cheese is going to increase to such an extent that New Zealand is bound to secure a better market at Home on account of the decreased Canadian export of butter and cheese."

KECLI'ROCTTY AND POLITICS. Questioned somewhat vaguely as to what he thought about reciprocity, Mr. MacEwan averred that it was a very intricate subject. He had not heard much talk about it, and for the present it seemed dead. It was defeated largely by the reckless words of Mr. 'Champ Clark, who degraded what might have been an innocent flirtation into a "scheme" with base and ulterior motives, and roused the Imperialism of the Canadians by declaring that if reciprocity were carried it meant the annexation of Canada by the United States. The Canadian electors took him at his word. The political atmosphere was quiet, and the immediate horizon clear of storm clouds. The emigration from the States to Canada was considerable and increasing. The newcomers were mostly farmers, and they got land on easy terms by going into new country. The Government gave them 100 acres of land free, •with the option of taking another ICO acres when they had effected certain improvements 011 the first lot. They liatt to get away back from the railways, and there hardships were many. Towns had sprung up throughout the West in a marvellous manner. It was 14 years since Mr. MacEwan was through the western country last, and he saw changes.

COMMUNICATION. Railway construction was being pushed ahead vigorously. Besides the C.P.R. there were two other transcontinental railways being hurried forward towards completion, namely, the "Canadian Northern and the Grand Trunk Pacific. These would, no doubt, have a tremendous effect in putting the Dominion ahead. These new lines wore being put through by companies who received no subsidy that he knew of. He had heard a rumor in Vancouver the Canadian Northern Company intended starting a steamship line to compete with the CanadianAustralinn Line p.s soon as they had their railway finished, which would be in about two years.

■. COST OF LIVING. , , The country seemed to be verv prosperous, but the cost of living was very high, having increased very largely during the past few years. Tie had heard it said in Montreal that that town was the most expensive place on the American continent on which to live. Wages had increased also, and one who did not realise how much it took to live would think them in some cases on a superlative level. It was hard to say, of course, whether the increase in wages >yas commensurate with the higher cost of living without having lived there.