The Daily News. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1914. TRADE WITH CANADA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 187, 6 February 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1914. TRADE WITH CANADA.

When it is considered that Canada is tlie largest of the. British possessions, and that during the last ten years 'tis population has been augmented by considerably over two million immigrant-, tlie importance of fostering trade rel;' lions between that dominion and Now Zealand will be at once apparent. That Canada is keen on encouraging- reciprocal trade is evidenced by alteration? made in her Customs tariff from time to time since 1897, and especially by tin revised tariff of 1906, which created ». new system, an intermediate scale being set tip for countries giving reciprocity to Canada, but, in order to qualify for British preference, imports must havi twenty-live per cent, of their value rnada up of British labor. Considering the • large French element that exists in CanI ada, it is not surprising that by a supI plcmcntary convention made in 1809 with France, certain French exports are admitted on terms generally identical with, and in some cases lower, than accorded to British goods by the preferential tariff. We mention this chielly to emphasise the fact that Canada is anxious to create markets for her products, and to receive in exchange tlie output of other countries so far as they meet her requirements. It is somewhat remarkable that the imports to Canada should so largely exceed tlie exports, and yet to that fact is largely due Canada's desire for reciprocity. Taking the dgures for 1912, Canada imported goods lo the value of £117,899,000, while her exports only amounted to £00,403,000. On a per capita basis this gives £IG lis 10d per head for imports and £8 7s Od for exports. New Zealand's figures for the nme year give £l9 0« 3d per head for imports and £lB 10s Id for exports. It is interesting to note that the trade between Now Zealand and Canada has ! steadily grown since 1909, the imports to the former rising from £261,402 to £452,510, und the return exports have progressed from £100,84-2 to £542,171 in 1912 —the latest (igues available. The appointment of a Trade Commissioner ta represent New Zealand in Canada wag a very wise move, and there is little doubt that it has done its sliare already towards the enlargement of trade relations between the two dominions. The Canadian Commissioner in New Zealand recently stated that this increased trade was, in one way, satisfactory, but tk*t t in another sense, it was not, and the reason for this remark lies in the fact that while the New Zealand trade witii Canada is increasing by leaps and bounds owing to its being fostered by reciprocal preferential tariffs, the trade between Canada and New Zealand has not lac advantage of a tariff based on true reciprocity. There is a great deal ef truth in this argument that Canada gives preference on what New Zealand sells, but that New Zealand does not adequately reciprocate in what Canada sells. The outlook, so far as our trade w-tth Canada is concerned, is certainly bright with promise, but in all fairness, apart from the question of securing substantial increases, there should .be an equal preference given to that which is taken. New Zealand is not, and probably never will be, a manufacturing country, and this should stimulate thj Government to do its very best in tka direction of encouraging and fosteriig trade relations between the two dominions on terms that will ensure rapid and permanent developments. New Zealand's tariff sadly wants overhauling, and, when this is done, special attention should be given to the attainment of true reciprocity with Canada.