The New York herald., 1879-10-09
CANADA'S POLICY.
An Interview with the DOminiOn'S
Finance Minister.
DIM PROSPECTS OF RECIPROCITY
Protection and the Business Re-
vival Of Canada.

Sir Leonard Tilley. Finance Minister of the Do
m;nion of Canada. was at the Fifth Avenue Hotel
yesterday and IN the course of conversation with
n reporter of the HERALD the honorable gentleman
gave expression to interesting views as to the
present protective policy OF Canada. and topics more
or less connected with it.
.Is it true" asked the reporter. "that the Cabinet
intend to adopt q modification of your protective
policy?"
mo-" was Sir Leonsrd's reply. "as far as We can
judge at present these statements are merely ru-
mors. The Cabinet will maintain the policy as it
stands now"
els tho temper of tho Canadian people not favor
able to such modihcaton?"
'.No; the people well satisfied with its results
thus !ar. OF course in Montreal and In the upper
provinces generally this satisfaction Is more marked
than in the lower provinces. where the manufac-
turing interest Ia as yet much smaller. and where
capital, which there has been largely invested III
shipping has been suffering so greatly that II mas
thus far failed to 90 as extensively into manutac-
sures 1t will. But predict that within twelve
months the good results OF our protective policy
will be as marked the lower provinces as they
in Montreal and Ontario"
BUSINESS REVIVAL IN CANADA.
Elm what have these results manifested themselves
80 far. Sir Leonardo?
over and an great revival of business has sc.
in with with you. The gentleman who was
talking with when received your card just
giving me another proof of it. He represents one of
the loading railroads Of Canada and says he has just
here to lease more cars. the road he repre-
sents is unable to move the immense amount of
freight going its line
MAY not this increase of business be
counted for by your large crops?"
..Of course good crops Will help any country Your
good crops doubt helping you greatly in your
present revival. But there is something more than
that in our revival of business. Manufactures
beginning to feel the stimulus which protective
policy is giving them. At first of course they do
not feel it in marked degree as they Will by and
by. When the present tariff went first into effect
had on hand Iarpe quantities of stock in every de-
scription of trade, aud it takes time to dispose
these. The full benefcent effect Of policy
will probably not be felt until next year"
RECIPROCITY STILL DESIRABLE.
Are you welded to your policy that you
gard it preferable to fair reciprocity between the
Iwo countres?
Not ut all. We agIee that fair reciprocity
wond be more advantageous for both countries,
and are still open to any proposition which the
United States government may make to us. You
know that the last proposed treaty WAS rejected by
your Senate because they feared it would allow
English manufactured goods to be brought in an
unfinished condition to Canada, aud thence
free of duty into the United States, to the
Injury OF your own manufactures l think that
was grounalcss fear, still the Senate probably
supposed they know best Their duty toward the Amer
lean people We are perfectly willing and ready
1T any moment and have the horty OF Parliament
to meet the United States half way in any proposed
plan of reciprocity regarding the natural produc-
tions of the two countries and to reduce tariff
in precisely the same proportion you reduce it, or
to abolish the duty altogether il you abolish it."
THE PROPOSED BASIS.
"on any articleY"
.Oh no. that would hardly be fair. Take, for in
stance stance corn 1t might be woil enough for the
our corn free OF dnty and We'll admit yours for
Canada only imports corn and does not ex-
port it. Again. it would be unfair Tor
US to say to the United States govern
ment. 'You admit barley and well
aamit yours for that is an article of produce in
which deal solely for expectation. No. reciprocity
would have to be established on some fair and
equitable basis as for instance was that of the
treaty OF ls5i Our present tariff has been called
prohbitive one. As matter OF fact. it is not
tty per cent as high as yours. with the sole excep
Is YOUR TURN Now"
"Has anything been done recently to bring the
two countries together?'
.The government of Canada have two or thrce
occasions approached the United States government
OIL the subject. but always unsuccessfully and. hav
ing taken authority from the Parliament of Canada
to deal with certain articles OF production OF both
countries. we prefer waiting the advances of our
American neighbors 1t is your turn now."
Has your present visit to Washington any refer
ence to this subject?"
''NOne Whatever.
''What is the present current of trade bctweon
Canada and the United Sates?'
.'The imports from the United States have in
creased for the last hve years, while our imports
from England have iallen of nearly fifty per cent
during the same period.
''What is the cause of this remarkable changer
''Your manufacturers have found market for
their surplus stock in Canada 1T reduced prices,
dersclng in many cases the English inanufac-
turers, and ~ a consequence. diminishing the
operations of our own manufacturers. What we are
doing ut present is really to our infant Cana.
dia Industries"
TREATY OF 1854
"Reforring to the treaty of 1884, how did that.
in your Judgment affect the trado of tho two coun-
tries?"
II have no hesitation in saying that its effect
most aud equally beneficial to both countries, and
its abrogaton in 1866 WAS great misfortune. was
In public life during the existence of the treaty and
had favorable opportunity of Judging of its ac-
tnal effect Ii led TO large increase in the volume
OF trade between both countries"
'Will the emigration from Toronto into the Red
ducton?"
"rhe emigration to the Northwest Territories will
not be confined to Ontario, whence it proceeded
March and April at the rate OF 1000 per day. There
can be no doubt that during the next Ave years emi-
grafton from Europe viii be very large. During the
next six or seven years we will complete the
Pacific Hallway TO the foot OF the Rocky Mountains.
opening up for settlement ono hundred
million acres of good wheat producing land, one
twentieth portion of which, whom put unde-
cultivation. will produce grain cxporc equal in
vaue to the whole OF the exports of the DOMINION
any year since confederation Ii il not improbable
that within the next thirty years Northwest
Territories will have population equal to that of
the Dominion at this time"
"Will the government build this Pacific railway?"
Eyes. and we expect TO obtain from the proceeds
construction"
"When will the work be commenced from the
Pacific sdeY'
1he tenders are 10 be received on the 18th of Mo-
venbcr, and the work Will be commenced before the
close OF this year"
Have you heard the rumor that Secretary Evarts
IL in favor OF a zollvcrein tariff unionl between tho
two countries thus practically uniting them far
ms the tariff is concernedr
II do not know what Mr.. Evarts' views are on the
subject" and Sir Leonard RILEY smiled signih-
cantly, az though he know good deal more than he
cared TO say.
The interview here terminated, Sir Leonard being
called away by his wife, who desired him to add
directly aud Immediately to the commercial pros
perty OF this country by going with her n shop
ping tour among the fashion nable baZaars of Now
York.
TRADE AND TRANSPORTATION