New-York tribune., 1910-12-15
CANADIAN FARMERS
DEMAND RECIPROCITY
neleoations from Many Parts of
the Dominion Storm
Ottawa.
IN IMPRESS LAW MAKERS
Arriculturists Seek Easier Ac-
cess to American Markets
and Abolition Of Duties
on Farm Implements.

OTTAWA. Ontario. Dec 14-An invasion
Of Ottawa by Canadian farmers from
<e- anS near began to-day with the
.--,,,al of a small delegation from the
,y.-,.ir,,e Provinces the advance guard
n = delegation of two hundred from
the nrovinoe Of Ontario and a party Of
,sn from, the far Western part of Can
ada The Western men arrived in a
snecfsI train Of thirteen sleepers. draped
u5,b banners inscribed "On to Ottawa
apother contingent from the West is
coming by way of Chicago, and will
arrive to-inorrow morning.
II is estimated that in all their num-
ha,. v-ill be between ten and twelve hun
frei. I'll delegates TO the first Canadian
National Council of Agriculture
This is the first movement of the kind
which has AIKEN place in Canada, and
marks the. beginning of an effort on the
r9rr Of farmers throughout the Domin-
ion 10 get into personal touch with the
lawmakers and impress on them the de-
rnands of agricultural interests. There
will be a convention on Thursday TO pre-
marc a formal statement. and this will
be submitted to the government and to
Parliament at a meeting in the House
o. Friday morning.
At the convention the delegates from
,be Maritime Provinces Will strongly
urge broad reciprocity with the United
States The farmers Of Nova Scotia,
New Brunswick and Prince Edward
island want easier access to the markets
of Boston and New York
The delegates from Ontario are in IA
vor Of reciprocity with the United States
and reduction of the Canadian traiff
l,v increasing the British preference TO
- per cent. The preference is now about
So per cent
The delegates from the West have a
more ambitious programme. Their main
demand is for reciprocity with the
United States and the abolition of du-
tics on articles which farmers require.
They demand absolute free trade In ag-
-icrltural implements. lumber, cement
hardware, woollens and sugar They
ask that the government shall take over
the terminal grain elevators on the
Great Lakes and run them as national
institutions. This demand is due to al
legations that the farmers have been
unfairly treated at the transfer ele-
yators.
The Western men also demand that
the government operate the Hudson Bay
Railway, which is now in process of con-
structjon. and not turn IL over to q
private company as has been proposed.
They Will ask that the government es-
tahlish for the West a chilled meat in
i1lstrv, such as has been established by
the governments Of Australia and New
Zealand. They want legislation which
Will facilitate the formation Of co-opera-
five societies, and they want a law which
viii compel railroads to pay for cattle
killed on railroad tracks under any cir
cUmstances.
This is the programme Of the West
which viii be presented to the conven-
tinn. and as they are in a great major
f., they will probably have it adopted.
The renlv to the farmers will be made
r., the Canadian Prime Minister, Sir Will
frid Laurier.
II is understood that he Will satisfy
their demands respecting the Hudson
BAY Railway and cooperative societies
ou the question Of the tariff he VIII
1roba bly, point out that negotiations are
Tnu on between Canada and the United
states which will probably result in re-
lief on some of the lines demanded, no.
tably on agricultural implements and
5,"ssibly lumber. II is anticipated that
b. VIII say the government would not
care to 70 in for wholesale tariff revision
without further study. and that tariff
commission viii he appointed TO take up
the question next summer
The delegates will be entertained at
Hdeau Hall on Friday afternoon by the
uNernor-CIeneral. Earl Grey.