Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-02-10
CANADIAN HOUSE BEGINS
DEBATE ON RECIPROCITY.

Ottawa, Ont, Feb. 9.-The Canadi-
an house this afternoon began the
debate on the reciprocity agreement
with the United States. The great
interest In the measure was Indicated
BY crowded galleries and an unusually
large attendance of members.
The result of the afternoons discus.
sion was a declaration by Finance
Minister Fielding that parliament
would put through the measure with
out delay, with provision that it
should come into force as soon as the
United States had taken favorable ac-
ton, and a declaration for the op-
position by Mr.. Borden, conservative
leader, that after forty year de-
|velopment struggle, Canada had
Preached a position where reciprocity
and increased trade with the United
States was no longer desirable, but
that Canada should continue to seek
British markets.
Minister Fielding stated that the
question was not new and there had
been no undue haste in its presenta-
ton.
1T Is the reciprocity agreement Of
1854 over again. with comparatively
little change" he said. "It promises
prosperity to the people of Canada
and this house would make a grave
mistake and do grave wrong If it
refused TO take advantage of it.
THE bill will be passed with a
suspending clause providing that it
shall not come into effect until sim-
lar action has been taken by the
United States"
hn ha Int -
tee on the resolution.
''The reciprocity measure Is so far
reaching" declared Mr.. Borden. op-
position leader, who was the first
speaker in committee, that no man
In the last forty years Canada has
made great strides toward develop
ment and no man can say that our
progress should be faster than 1t has
been.
seeking and the United States has
been denying reciprocity. And now
when their natural resources of tia
Der, minerals and agriculture are be-
ing overtaken by the demands of
their population, they turn to us.
mo one favors more than |, the
maintenance of good relations with
the United States. but that country
has made Its tariffs to suit itself and
Canada could well take lesson In
this case"
Some of the results OF the agree
ment which Mr.. Borden foresaw. were
the abandonment of British markets
that Canada had built up for forty
years. the growth of commerce with
the United States which would even
tually lead to commercial union with
that country.
He summed up the opposition posi-
ton by saying Canada should follow
the paths she is now treading without
regard TO the United States whose
favor OF today might be Withdrawn
tomorrow.
William Patterson, minister of Gus
toms. one of the Canadian tariff COM
missioners. ridiculed the idea that
better tariff arrangements and In
creased trade with the United States
would weaken the bond between
Canada and the mother country The
British preference still remained the
cardinal point OF canada's fiscal poli-
cy. he said.
The fear that traffic would be d.
verted from Canadian to American
railroads did not appear sound TO
him. Today many MILLIONS of bushels
OF Canadian wheat were being shipped
In bond through the United States and
the arrangement would make no
change In this.
II the Hill roads would haul wheat
cheaper than the Canadian roads, so
much the better for the Canadian
farmers, Mr.. Patterson said. Canadian
lines would have to meet the Ameri-
can rates or take the consequences.