OTTAWA [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—It is to
be hoped that the English political representa- tives are equally prepared to meet the business- attitude of the
Canadians. From a long business association with the Dominions, I can vouch that the business attitude is the same as in every country. The traders' are bard-headed business men, and will not pay a penny more for the pleasure of buying goods from England. The fact is that what goods they are compelled to import they insist upon buying from the cheapest source. I have letters scouting the idea of paying England a premium. Directly they can manufacture the goods them- selves, they take good' care they will shut out competition, whether from England or any other country. Some years ago we shipped quantities of steel rails to Canada. They then completed the Algoma Works at Toronto, which, it was con- templated, would turn out 500 tons steel rails a day. They at once put into force a duty of 30s. a ton on imported steel rails, giving England a preference of one-third, in other words placing a duty of 20s. a ton on the English steel rails, which was sufficient to keep them out altogether, which the sequel disclosed.
For years we have supplied Australia with tinplates, and bought back her tinned fruits and meats in immense quanti- ties. She eventually set up her own tinplate plant and peti- tioned the • Government to put on a duty of £5 per ton on English tinplates to keep them out. All this only goes to show that the Dominions will study their own business inte- rests ; as an article in the Vancouver Star said : " There is no sentiment in Overseas traders." In this mite of an island, where we are dependent upon imports for 75 per cent. of our food-stuffs and raw material, we have to keep in touch with every wheat-growing country in the world. To restrict our movement in this direction, which has more than once been suggested in favour of Canadian wheat, would not only bring periodical famine prices but, in case of a bad harvest in Canada, results too awful to contemplate.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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