TRADE WITH CANADA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 251, 13 March 1913, Page 2

TRADE WITH CANADA.

AX INTERESTING INTERVIEW. By Telegraph.—Per Press Association. Auckland, Wednesday. The Hon. G. E. Foster, Canadian Minister of Trade and Commerce, arrived by the Makura to-day and joins the Empire Trade Commission. He is proceeding to Australia in order to discuss with the Prime Minister of the Commonwealtli the question of reciprocity between Canada and Australia. He said that he could not say what would be the basis of the negotiations; he was just going to talk things over with Mr. Foster. Mr. Foster, on being questioned as to the probable effect of reciprocity between Canada and Australia upon the existing reciprocal conditions as between New Zealand and Canada, said that it would be difficult to say. There was room for both countries, but the slight advantage of position lay with New Zealand. He believed that a trade with the eastern ports of Canada could be worked up, and would result satisfactorily at this end.

Questioned as to the rumor of a possible amalgamation between the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Union Company, he said that he had heard nothing about it. A freight line was needed between the Pacific slope and New Zealand and AustraliaQuestioned on the subject of naval defence, Mr. Foster said that any difference of opinion in Canada was really more a party matter than a national one. It was only as to the question of method. The idea of three battleships was considered by the Government to he the more speedy way of helping the ' Old Country and the Empire, but that was only a preliminary part of the Government's programme, and was looked upon in the light of an emergency contribution. It was not urged that the future policy should not include what might be called direct Canadian co-opera-tion in both men and vessels. If this were realised the three warships that would be liuilt would be available for inclusion in a permanent system when one was devised.