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JA1S"UARY, 18, 1889. w. d, matthews, president, in the chair. Mr. President, and Gentlemen, I observe from some press notices that the report lam alubvit to read is styled a lecture upon raj'^ recent trip to the West India Islands and British Guiana. I am sorry that that impression should have been created, for the few remarks which I purpose making -.vill not be worthy any such pre- tentious title ; they will refer only to i he openings which these islands present for an extended trade with our own country, a dry subject at best, affording but little opportunity for the play of fancy, and to other than business men as destitute of interest as of poetry. I have no doubt that there are in this gathering those whose business or inclination have brought them to thene lovely islands of the sea. For them nothing that I can say of their appearance, their products or their people, will be new ; but there are others, and I am safe in saying, by far the greater number, who have not the slightest conception that within five or six days' journeying from our own city, there are islands so strangely beautiful, so wonderfuU}^ productive — 'slands where perpetual summer reigns, and where — while with us winter has asserted its power, has robbed the forest of its foliage, and the fields of their verdure, that amid them — the palm trees bend their gracefvd forms — oranges, limes, bananas, and sapodillas, and indeed every kind of tropical fruit surround the ])asser- by, while tropical flowers skirt every road-side, and border many of the great cane fields, whose delicate green with the feathery arrow of the cane rises and bends to every breeze, as do the waves of the sea; whose lofty mountain peaks rise to the height of 5000 or 6000 feet, and whose low lands present such pictures of loveliness, arising from their great fertility and marvellous vegetation, as are not to be surpassed on the face of the earth. It is under such circumstances that one realizes to some ex- tent at least, the vastness and the power of the British Empire, as they CANADA AND THE WEST INDIES. thus see it embracing within itself every climate, almost every class of people, and every product of the earth. While on our outward voyage from New York we spent some four hours opposite Staten Island, adjusting our compasses, and during that brief period some nine or ten great ocean steamers entered the harbour. Not so much was I impressed with the thought as to where they came from, not so much either as to where they were going to ; this it was that struck me, that with one exception only they all bore the British Ensign, giving one some faint idea of how widespread, and how far apart must be the oceans over which it floats, on each of which it is to every subject an ob- ject of pride, to every oppressed one an assurance of protection ; indeed no one thinks of asking the question, where to look for it ? The question is, where is it not to be found ? In the month of July, when amid the icebergs of Labrador, in latitude somewhere about 52' 20' north, and when on that rocky coast at anchor by reason of the fog, the very firs^ object that met my eye when the fog lifted was the ensign of St. Ge6rge floating on one of Her Majesty's vessels stationed there to guard the interests of her Newfoundland fisher- men ; and at the close of the yepr. as I found myself at British Guiana, in something like six degrees north cf the Equator, and where the mariner oftimes takes his bearings from the Southern Cross, I found the same ensign floating from British merchant ships, which had brought there the riches of many lands, over many seas, to take back to as many lands the products of Britain's Colonies. I cannot describe the feelings which took possession of me as I tried to realize what a privilege, what a glory, it was to be the subject of an empire upon whose possessions the sun never sets, the . -flTect of whose civilization is felt wherever the habitations of men are found. A glance at the map will show that the British West India Islands (excluding the Bermudas, w^hich are situated in about 32° 50' north) embrace some twenty-two im- portant islands, and extend from the Bahama group, situated in about 27° 40' north, to Trinidad in 11° north ; or, if the line be extended to the important colony of British Guiana, to 6° north of the Equator. The islands embrace; an area of 15,121 square miles, British Guiana, an area of 76,000 square miles, and include a population under British rule of at least 1\ millions. If to this we add the Spanish, French, Danish, Swedish and Venezuelian Islands and the Republics of Hayti and San Domingo, we have an area of 159,992 square miles, and a population of between four and five millions, or equal to that of the entire population of Canada. Now it will readily be apparent that the needs of such a population imply for the mere necessaries of life an immense consumption, and, as a consequence, with some nation or nations a very large and a very important trade. From whence are these islands supplied ? I will not refer specially to the smaller islands, for they, in a great measure, draw their supplies from the larger ones, and although my visit embraced Santa Cruz, St. Kitts, An- tigua, Montserrat, Guadaloup, Barbados, Grenada, Trinidao, Tobago and CANADA AND THE WEST INDIES. 8 very class of it some four during that the harbour. By came from, as that struck "s^gn> giving must be the Libject an ob- 1 ; indeed no e question is, , in latitude tst at anchor i^hen the fog sr Majesty's JIand fisher- 1 Guiana, in bhe mariner lid the same tit there the ly lands the IS I tried to f an empire civilization t the map Bermudas, ^y^two im- in about ded to the ator. The la, an area ih rule of », Danish, and San ilation of ulation of (opulation and, as mportant specially )Iies from .itts, An- Migo and i Demarara, I will confine my remarks chiefly to the larger islands visited and to British Guiana. J place the various sources from which the islands are supplied in the order of importance. Barbadoes, for example, draws its supplies — From the United States to the amount of. £367,117 11 4 British N. A. Colonies 92,134 7 2 Brazil 57,215 4 5 British West Indies 30,529 16 3 British Guiana 18,406 9 10 Calcutta 14,595 9 10 These are the most important. The total im- ports of the Island being ^6983,437 6 4 Or in round numbers $ 4,615,936. Trindad dravs its imports from the United States to the amount of. £360,537 • Venezuela 359,918 British West Indies 118,129 France 101,386 British East Indies 92,976 British North America 54,532 The total imports of the Island being £1,918,670 Or in round numbers $9,593,350 British Guiana supplies herself from United States to the amount of. £317,021 India 169,588 British North America 94,249 British West Indies 32,577 France 17,878 In all £1,603,175 " Or $8,015,875 You will observe that I have made no reference to Jamaica, an island which is spoken of as the Queen of the Antilles, which is three times as large as thelargest of the British West India group.and nearly three times as populous as the most densely populated, viz: the Island of Barbadoes, which is generally regarded as per square mile, the most densely populated portion of the globe ; but I have made no reference to Jamica, from the fact that I did not take it in in my trip, although a residence of eight months in it made me familiar with its beauty, its fertility, its importance. The figures which I give of the other islands will, I think, be found in a great meas- urC'to apply to it in proportion to its extent and population. The questions whicn we have to meet in the consideration of the anb- ject which I desire to bring before you are these : CANADA AND THE WEST INDIES. Ist. A.re we doing all the trade with these West India Islands which we can do, and which we ought to do ? 2nd. If not, is it possible for us to increase it ? Before attempting to answer these questions I may say that through- out the entire islands I met with nothing but a spirit of great kindness, kindness from every class ; from merchants, planters, bankers, in short from every class of the community — with strongly expressed desires for closer business relations with Canada, with assurances that everything else being equal they would give to Canada the pre- ference; and here let me say, as Canadians that we have no right to expect anything more, and if we cannot beat other competitors on equal terms we have no right to look for trade upon the ground of sentiment. Value, is the real test of superiority, the only true test by which superiority can be gauged ; it is only by this standard that trade can be secured, and it is only by this standard that trade is to be retained. One important thing in business is the existence of a friendl}- feeling on the part of those who desire to open up trade relations with each other, and I am here to-day to assure this Board that on behalf of our fellow-subjects in the West Indian Colonies such friendly feeling exists on their part to the largest possible extent. In looking at the relative amount of trade which the West Indies do with other countries, I will only enter into a comparison with that done in our own country, with that done in the United States, restricting the com- parison to them, and doing this, 1st. Because of their contiguity to us as compared, for example, with France, India, or other countries similarly situated. 2nd. From the similarity existing between the commodities supplied by themselves and us, and 3rd. From the fact that like ourselves they are members of the great Anglo-Saxon family, and consequently possess no advantages either by inheritance or acquisition which are not in a measure equally great enjoyed by ourselves. Do we then, as compared with the United States, get our fair share of • the West Indian trade ? I think not ! In Barbadoes, for example, they do four dollars for our one. In Trinidad about seven dollars to our one. In British Guiana three dollars and thirty-seven cents, to our one. These figures furnish us with one gratifying fact, and that is, that dis- tance has nothing to do with the disparity, for we find that in the most remote colony, that of British Guiana, our trade as compared with the United States, bears a 50% greater proportion than does our -trade with I'rinidad, although that colony to us is much nearer. It is of moment therefore to know that it is not distance that places us at a disadvantage. This would appear to be a fitting place to refer to the particular class of commodities which the United States supply to the Colonies in exc^s of ourselves, and at the same time to refer to the instances where our sales are in excess of theirs. These tables are very suggestive. Let me CANADA AND THE WEST INDIES. inds which t through- ' kindness, ankers, in expressed assurances I the pre- ' to expect tuai terms t. Value, uperiority 5 secured, !.>' feeling I'ith each If of our ng exists 8 do with ne in our the com- )le, witli plied by e great s either y great 'hare of • ae. at dis- le most ith the e with loment Dtage. I* class exc^s re our iet me note a few particulars, and for the sake of brevity I will refer to two of the Colonies only. The United States supply Trinidad with cheese to the extent of 140,533 lbs. British Guiana to the extent of 193,720 lbs. We with 300 lbs. in the case of Trinidad only, while to British Guiana we do not send one pound. In British Guiana, in all the following articles, we are V)adly beaten in sales by the United States : Guiana— Imports from B. N. America £ 94,929 11 2. India l(;9,o88 16 8. United States 317,021 9 1. Exports to B. N. America £ 41,908 12 2|. India 458 7 Hi United States 813,773 4 lOL Or, in round numbers, exports to Canada, $209,540 : to United States, 34,068,864. United States send Bread, including biscuits . . Butter Candles, tallow Cheese Confectionery Corn and Oatmeal 1 Corn brooms (doz.) Flour (brls.) Grain (bush.) , Grain (feed) Hams . . .> Hay Mules Oils (gals.) Pitch (brls.) Shooks (packs) Soap (lbs.) B. Tar (brls.) Tobacco Tongues (pickled) Turpentine (gals.) Apothecaries' wares (pkgs.) Cabinet Ware " Hardware " Leather " Lbs. 709,630 182,671 32,745 193,720 6,164 ,731,124 2,063 138,941 28,064 10,025 205,831 837,879 194 393,233 1,023 5,191 494,890 720 10,015 12,203 2,785 261 422 729 244 N. A. sends Lbs. 11,200 6 None. 200 None. 100 None. 1,223 7,460 None. 338 92 None. 150 None. (( (( « Duty. 28. Id. per 100 lbs. Id. per lb. 2s. Id. per 100 lbs. Id. per lb. 2hd. " la. OJd.per 100 lbs. 4s. 2d. per barrel. 2Jd. per bushel. 2hd. Id. per lb. 5d. per 100 lbs. 1. lOd. per gal. 2s. Id. per brl. 4d. per pack. 2s. Id. per 100 lbs. 2s. Id. per brl. Is. 10|d. per lb. Id. per lb. 9d. per gal. 7 per cent, ad val. 20 6 CANADA AND THE WEST INDIES. Linons and cottons (pkgs.) Miscellaneous Paper Manufactures (pkgs.) Preserved Fruits Preserved Meats Wood Manufactures 317 2 1,082 G 2,147 None. 238 « 1,561 410 418 None. 7 per cent, ad val. M (• II II We are beaten by the United States in sales in Trinidad, in each of the following articles : — Trinidad imports from British North America £54,532. East Indies 92,979. United States 360,537. « tt II To Trinidad the United States Send B Bread Butter Cheese Furniture (val.) . . . Flour (brls.) Hardware (val.) . . . Lard (lbs.) Live Stock (val.) . . Medicines " Oil Meal (lbs.) .... S. Hooks Staves Lbs. 13,673 90,163 140,533 £3,030 98,307 £7,813 1,659,781 £4,830 £1,701 17,485 47,975 323,774 Duty. N. A. sends Lbs. None. 222 330 Id. per lb. None. £172 None. Is. 6d. per barrel. Id. per lb. Id. per lb. 4 per cent. 3s. 4d. per bl. 4 per cent. 3s. per 100 lbs. £20 None. 3,208 None. Is. per 100 lbs. 7d. per bdle. 12s. per 1,000. In Grenada the United States, as compared with Canada, appear to have a monopoly , for while they send quantities of bread, butter, candles, flour, and fish, all of which we can supply on terms as favourable as they can, and, in some instances, upon terms more favourable, the market, so far as we are concerned, has been neglected. To Trinidad they send goods free of duty. Meats (lbs.) 2,942,589 None. Live Stock 1,546 £ 9,756 218 or £933, or S47,780 to our S4,615. VegetableProducts(val.) £ 6,170 £508. But to bring out here more prominently a few articles, notice that the United States send Bread B.Guiana 709,630. Canada sends 11,200. CANADA AND THE WEST INDIES. cent, ad val. d, in each 4,532. 2,979. 0,537. rxY. r barrel, b. •. t. rbl. t. lbs. lbs. lie. 000. I' to have es, flour, hey can, t, so far io, or .0. lat the SENDS 0. Bread Trinidad Butter B. Guiana Trinidad Flour B. Guiana : . . Trinidad Com and Oatmeal, B. Guiana 1,731,124. Lard Trinidad 1,059,781 Live Stock " Hams B. Guiana Hay " Oils " Staves Trinadad 13,673. None. 182.071. G !)0,103. 222 138,941. None. 98,307. f< ,731,124. M ,059,781. n 4.830. <( 205,831, 1,223 837,839. 7,4G0 393,233. None. 323.774. i< In addition, I find that the United States warehoused in British Guiana, for exportation only, that is, I take it, to supply the smaller markets, the following goods : — Butter, United States 3,800. Hams 11,030. Beef (brk) 7,641. Lard ...: 635,392. Canada, none. I had said that I would refer to two of the Islands only, but I find in the case of Barbadoes the disparity to be so much greater in some articles than that which exists in the other Islands, that I find it necessary to call attention specially in these articles to the state of things in that Is- land. The following are the figures : — UNITED STATES. Bread 4,125,036 Butter 755,141 Cheese 101,740 Corn and Grain (unground) 6,719,996 Lard 743,587* Meat V63.547 Staves & Shocks J,907,220 Flour 73,358 In addition the United States beat us badly in Barbadoes in their sup- ply of candles, hay, and straw, miscellaneous goods, in sheep and other live stock, in tallow and other commodities. Now to turn to a more pleasing aspect of the case, more pleasing to us at least as Canadians, and that is, to those instances where we have assert- ed our ability to compete with the United States on equal terms, and where in sales we have beaten them. I must here note out a very few articles, as the matter has already been alluded to in another place In Barbadoes the matter stands thus : CANADA. DUTY. 9,850 Gd. per 100 lbs. 330 7s. Gd. " none 78. 6d. " t< Gd. ft 8 per cent, ad val. « 5s. per 100 lbs. 131,822 Gd. " 1200 100 4s. 2d. " barrel. 8 CANADA AND THE WEST INDIES. UNITED STATES. Oats 1,812,517 White Pine.. 2,582,080 Shingles 550,150 CANADA. 2,401,753. 7,33«.5()5. 3,5^0,850. We also beat theru in dried and pickled fish, in fruit and vegetables, as we also do in hoops. In Trinidad thus : UNITED STATES. Shingles 95,000 CANADA. 179,000. Still more remarkable aie the figures in fish, free of duty. UNITED STATES. Fish 403,513 CANADA. 5,677,480. Or a trade in that particular article more than fourteen times greater than theirs I ! In British Guiana thus : UNITED STATES. Smoked Fish.. 2,700 Lumber 3,824,505 Staves 335,195 Do., R.O 11,980 Potatoes 1,715 CANADA. 34,526. 6,139,140. 637,345. 222.027. 16,734. I have been careful in presenting such articles only as I have reason to believe we can offer on terms as favorable as the United States, and the re- sult to my mind suggests some very curious questions. Canada has taken a very leading position as a cheese-producing country, why then, it may be asked, do our Dairymen allow our neighbors to monopolize the market, so that while to three of the colonies only they send 434,993 pounds, we to the same colonies send only 300 pounds ? Can we not produce as good butter as they do ? Is our flour not equal to theirs ? Have they a mono- poly in the making of bread ? Have they all the lard on the Continent ? Are their meadows better than ours ? Do their fields grow better grain than ours, or their forests yield better lumber ? Why, then, if these ques- tions have to be answered in the negative, do we find the strange differ- ences which exist in the trade of their country and ours with these islands, the difference being immensely in favor of the United States. Why, for example, as against the 21,050 pounds of bread which we send to three of these Islands, do our neighbors send 4,848,339 ! Why, as against our paltry shipment of butter, amounting only to 558 lbs., do our neighbors send 1,031,755 ? Why is it that the Americans can find a market for corn and oatmeal to the extent of 8,551,120 lbs., and we are unable to send a pound ? Why, they, 310,606 brls. fiour, and we not one ? Why, we, not one pound of lard, and they 1,803,368 ? And perhaps Aid. Frankland jetabloM, as iGH greater reason to nd the re- has taken m, it may le market, ounds, we ;e as good f a mono- ontinent ? tter grain lese qiies- ge differ- je islands, Why, for ) three of ainst our leighbors arket for jnabic to Why, we, rankland CANADA AND THE WEST INDIES. 9 will bo able to render the public a .servico by explaining wi>y it is that the United States can send to two islands alone, those of liarbadoes and Trinidad, meat to the extent of (j,10G,l.SG, to the former, y,lGJi,5+7 lbs.; to the latter, 2,042,589 lbs. ; while we appear to be unable to sen<406,2l:i only. It cannot, therefore, but be refreshing to us to find that this Dominion of not quite 5,000,000 is able in many articles to do (juadruple the trade with the West India Islands that the United States is able to do with its great population of 60,000,000. You will observe that I have been making no reference to any of our manufactured articles, my remarks have been confined to the products of the forest only and the field, and, I think i'rom the figures presented that I have furnished an answer to the first question proposed, which is : Are we doing all the trade with these West India Islands which we can do, and which we ought to do ? And that answer is : We are not. I come now to the consideration of my second question : If not, is it possible to increase it '. And in this connection I observe that the same figures which gave to the former question a negative answer, give to this a positive reply. It is said of Lord Cardigan that when he received in- structions to attack the Russian guns, nay to attack a complete army, with the handful of men constituting what has since become immortal in history as the famous Light Brigade, that he tisked, as he fittingly might have done : " Is there not some mistake \ " And it is said that he received for reply, *' There is the enemy, and there are your orders." In like manner we say to you to-day, Go up and get your fullest share of this West India trade, the share that is yours by proximity to them, the share that is yours by affinity with them, the share that from their interest and youi-s, they de- sire you to have. You ask what a trade conflict with a nation of 60,000,- 000 with any hope of success ? The answer is, " There are the markets, and there are your competitors." It would be too much to expect that in the short space of one year, or even two yeai-s, the figures as they stand to-day, representing the trade done with these islands by the United States and Canada could be re- versed ; too much to expect that the friendly relations which exist be- tween our American friends and their West India clients, are to be speedily 10 CANADA AND THE WEST INDIES. dissolved ; too much that they are going to withdraw from the field with- out a conflict, and that severe and long-continued ; but as we beat them to- day in many lines, the proof is conclusive that we can beat them in many others, and while it is too much to expect that the relativt positions occupied by both parties are at once to be changed. It is not too much resolutely to determine that they shall and that they will be equalized. But here the question is again distrustfully asked by some : " What, with a people of 60,000,000 ? " Yea, I say unhesitatingly, with a people of 00,000,000, and if we are not prepared so to resolve, let us cease our utterances — deemed with some show of reason, by so many to be boastful — of the extent of our territory, of the fertility of our soil, of the intelligence and enterprise of our people. Let us, I say, cease referring to our great advantages, unless we are prepared to t»irn them to practical account, unless we are prepared by a bold and vigorous policy, and with- out further inactivity, to put forth our energies in developing a trade which by us has been so long not only overlooked, but neglected. It would be idle to expect any material change in trade relations with matters as they exist at present. I have asked : Is it possible to increase this trade ? It is. But this can only be brought about under certain con- ditions. But let us look at what will be necessary to secure this end : 1st. A rapid and regular steam communication. 2nd. A direct and inexpensive cable service. 3rd. A regular and prompt postal service. 4th. An efficient light-house service ; and, 5th. A new departure bringing our merchants, millers, lumber dealers, and manufacturers into direct contact with the great leaders in trade in the various islands and in British- Guiana. It will be seen that I have referred here to some matters of Imperial obligation. I refer especially in this connection to the light-house ser vice, and to this I will refer further in a moment or two. Let me first notice the importance of a regular and rapid steam communication. This is a matter of the very first importance, if we are greatly to increase our trade with these islands. I do not wish to be understood now as expressing any opinion upon the excellence or inefficiency of any of the existing lines, I am claiming that a class of vessels, faster than any now engaged in the trade, and fitted up expressly with direct reference to the West India trade is a necessity, if any great change is to be brought about. When I say fittad up with direct reference to the West India trade, I mean not for freight only, but for passengers, with such a perfect system of ventilation, and every other modern improvement as will create a constant intercourse between Canada and these islands for pleasure as well as for business. By rapid transit we should get all West India fruits in perfect order, re- taining their flavor, something of which we are entirely ignorant of at present, and at prices which would put them within the reach of the great mass of our people. I am in a position to know that men of in- fiuence in the islands are in favor of doing their share in assisting in subsidizing such a line of steamers. The question is : Ave we prepared llcoc< CANADA AND THE WEST INDIES. li ) field with- sat them to- a,t them in he relativt langed. It at they will 3d by some : igly, with a let us cease many to be r soil, of the referring to to practical r, and with- ng a trade ited. lations with 5 to increase certain con- ber dealers, in trade in of Imperial 3US0 service, first notice This is a se our trade expressing is ting lines, jaged in the India trade When I say uean not for ventilation, intercourse or business, ct order, re- lorant of at each of the men of in- assisting in «re prepared to do ours ? Such a line of steamships, would, I am persuaded, attract many hundreds of our people to visit these beautiful islands, who would take I away with them impressions which would be of life-long remembrance. Then we need an inexpensive cuble communication. At present the price varies from 12 to 15 shillings per word (sterling), so that it will be ! seen at a glance that such rates act as a .serious bar, being for every class I of business, unless matters of greatest urgency, well nigh prohibitory. This is in some measure accounted for from the fact that messages have at present to pass through Danish, French and Spanish Islands. I can- j. not, of course, indicate what would be the best remedy, but it appears to me that a cable in which Great Britain, Canada and the West India I Islands would be directly interested, having it under their own con- I trol, would be one step in the right direction ; but what is really needed i is a service which at the very utmost would not co.st more than from 2i> I to 50 cents per word. I Then as to a prompt postal service. I feel that the need ofi this cannot I better be illustrated than by referring to a circumstance in connection I with my own experience. I mailed a letter for Toronto at Barbadoes,. I after which I called at Grenada, Tobago, Trinidad and Demerava, stopping I at the latter place four days, returned to Barbadoies, and, after ihe lapse of a I fortnight, took the letter on board of the Barracouta, and had I not I stayed over one day, on my return, would have reached home before the I letter; as it was, it only reached Toronto the same day that I did. Now it I seems incredulous that in islands of such importance such imperfect postal I arrangements should exist. I Further, by the establishment of a system of light-houses. This, as I have I said, is as I suppose an Imperial matter. It is nevertheless urgently needed if time is to be saved and safety secured. I am assured that no coast line in the world is so imperfectly provided with light-houses as is the West India coast line, and this is all the more remarkable, when it is considered that of very much of it it may be said none is more dangerous. But I notice further that this increase of trade cannot be secured unless our own merchants, millers, and manufacturers come into diiect contact with the leaders in trade in the various islands. Every hogshead of sugar, bag of I cocoa or coffee, every cai- load of fruit which our merchants buy from I the New York merchant only help to build i.p the trade of the United States with the West India Islands to our own disadvantage. If this trade is to be done it must l)e done direct. Our own people must visit these markets, must find out their wants, must establish their connection and make our country known. I can promise them a kind reception, and I can give them the assurance that they will meet with an advanced class of business men, such as in all sterling qualities cannot be surpassed in any part of the world. But some may say, you have been speaking only of the larger colonies. What of the smaller ones ; is there any trade to be done with them ? To this question we may refer to Antigua ; it is an island having an area of 280 square miles, with a population of 35,000. Its imports amount ta £145,227, of which ; A 12 CANADA AND THE WEST INDIES. Of this amount £72,229 is from the United Kingdom. £19,151 fi" " British Colonies. £53,847 " Foreign countries. £7,921 only come from Canada, while £49,830 is supplied by the United States. Without referring to the manufactured goods imported from the United Kingdom, it is worth while to notice the class of goods which they use and which we can supply, and which are now so largely furnished by the United States. I am indebted to Mr. James Burns, the landing surveyor, for the fol- lowing information in connection with Antigua, of articles which it can take and which Canada can supply provided any advantage is offered : Article. Quantity An- Prick at Port of Remarks. nually. Origin. Bread and Biscuit, 4600'cwt,, $3 per cwt.. Butter (N.¥.), 32946 lbs.. 5d. per lb., Oleomargarine. " (England), 45170 lbs.. lid. per lb.. Butter. Candles (Tallow) 19000 lbs.. $10 per 100 lbs. Corn 17000 bags. $1.50 to $1.60 Must be well kiln died. Cheese 24000 lbs.. 6d. to 7d. Very inferior — mar- ket for a better ar- ticle. Fish (dried), 2800 Casks. $11 to $12 Fish (Pickled), 1600 brb.. $2.50 to $3 Same remark. FJour (Wheaten), 17000 bris.. $4 to $4.50 Canadian flour as a rule, is of too high a grade — costs to(.> much and does not keep in the Tropica. Hams, Bacon, &c., 19000 lbs., 5d. Amer. This very poor— mar- ket for a better ar- ticle at a higher price. Lard, 45500 lbs., 5 to 6 cents. Meal, 8000 brls.. $2.50, See remtu-k on Flour. Petroleum, 36000 gals.. 6d. per gal. According to grade. Canadian black oata •Oats, 1270 bush.. 1-6 bush. find no market. Peas and Beans, 887 bush.. 6s. to 7b. Trade could be in- creased. Pork, 2200 brls., $16. Superior pork not used. Potatoes, 400 brls.. $3. Well selected and well packed potat- oes will sell well, very inferior grades shipped. Soap, 155000 Ihs , 4 cents lb. Almost all from Eng. Tallow, 12200 lbs.. 6 cents lb. (« t( Wood white pina & Spruce 1^ million ft.. $12 per M. This trade was once Pitch Pine, 360,000 ft., $16.50 per M. entirely with Can- Cypress Shingles, 650,000 feet. $6 per M. ada, is now trans- Cedar and Pine Sh. , 1 million, $2 per M. ferred to the Uni* I by the United lorted from the )ds which they y furnished by »r, for the fol- es which it can e is offered : Remarks. jomarganne. tter. ist be well kiln d. ry inferior — mar- it for a better ar- cle. me remark, nadian flour as a lie, is of too high grade — costs too uch and does not )ep in the Tropica. is very poor— mar- »t for a better ar- cle at a higher ice. remark on Flour. x)rding to grade, ladian black oata id no market. bde could be in- cased. jerior pork not ed. 11 selected and )]1 packed potat- will sell well, ry inferior grades ipped. nost all from Eng. (t CANADA AND THE WEST INDIES. Wood Hoops, Staves, Shooks, 470,000 60 to 100 M. 27000 $14 per M. r2 cents. 13 ted States. Falling oflf in favor of Shooks. The only items which Canada now gives, are, fish, white pine and spruce lumber, and cedar shingles. This trade is rapidly falling off ; Can- idian fish and lumber come in ship loads. Two of these arriving together $wamp the market. Buyers prefer to pay moi-e for small stocks and just issorted as they wish in New York. The class of goods which Antigua requires and the quantities she takes Iwill I fancy fairly represent the quantities needed by all the islands rhose population is somewhat the same. But I come now to consider a oranch of the subject upon which I have not yet touched. I may ask, [why is it that the United States do so much more with these CVlonies than we do, and that in a class of commodities in which they possess no idvantage over us ? — In a class of commodities which in many instances they purchase from us to sell to them ? There are doubtless many answers to this question. I am going to call /our attention to one only: They — that is the U. S. — are large buyers of their products. The following is the proportion in which Canada and the United States ire purchasers from these Colonies of their products in the following Islands : is trade was once tirely with Can- a, is now trans- rred to the Uni« TRINIDAD. Cocoanuts, the U. S. buy... 440,300, Canada Cocoa, " « (lbs.) 9,864, Molasses, " " (gals.) 826,308. Sugar. " " fibs.) 103,114,294. 5.000. 515. 374,958. 124,108. BRITISH GUIANA. Coffee, the U. S. buy 34,560. Canada, none. Sugar, " " (hgds.) .:.... 67,393. " 2,490. BARBADOES. * Sugar, the U. S. buy 50,278. Canaua, 5,244. We are larger buyers of molasses, however, from British Guiana and Barbadoes than are the United States. From the former we purchase ;^,601 casks, they 166 ; from the latter, 35,051 puncheons, they 9.026. The purchases for the United Kingdom in the same year (1887) of sugar were : From Trinidad 46,548,922 fts. " British Guiana 79,417 hgds. Barbadoes 9,646 " 14 CANADA AND THE WEST INDIES. From these figures it ia evident that from these islands alone the United States purchase one-third more sugar than does Great Britain, while from Trinidad.foreveryhundredthousandpounds which we buy the United States buy nearly a million, or in other words, for every pound which we buy they buy eight hundred and thirty ! ! which really means eight hundred and thirty times more than we buy, and from British Guiana and Bar- badoes combined, for every hogshead which we buy the United States buy fifteen. But startling as these figures are, the exports from these Islands to the United States for 1888-9 will make the disparity still greater. I was assured by a gentleman largely engaged in the sugar trade in Trinidad, that the shipments of sugar to the United States from Deraerara alone, say in a period of not more than ten weeks, that is, between November 1, 1888, and January 1, 1889, would amount to twenty thousand tons. Anyone calculating what sugar is worth per ton in New York or Philadelphia, will see the enormous sum repre- sented by these figures ; yet large as they may appear, to my mind they — from what I have witnessed — are perfectly plain. The vessel, for example, in which I came from Demerara brought to Philadelphia 1950 tons ; while another large vessel engaged in the East Indian trade was being towed up the river at the same time having on board some 1600 tons. These two shipments, be it observed, reaching the port of Philadelphia in one day from one Colony, representing one-half the entire Canadian imports of sugar from Trinidad and British Guiana and Barbadoes for a whole year, are most suggestive. Do not let us forget in our desire to secure for our own country a greater measure of the West Indian trade than we have, that nothing is so sensitive as commerce, Nothing is more natural than that a nation will look most kindly upon that nation which takes its products, and will, as a consequence, the more readily take what it has to ofier in return; that it will insensibly be drawn to the nation which deals most largely with it, and to that extent be in- riuenced in its favor ; that, above all, will it give the preference to that nation which afibrds the best facilities for the introduction of its products. It will be readily understood that a nation of 60,000,000 must neces- sarily consume more sugar (to speak of one product only) than a nation of 5,000,000 ; but looking at the figures before us, one naturally inquires, when looking at the small amount which we are credited with as import- ing from the West Indian Islands : From whom do we buy our sugar to meet the wants of our people ? We may of course buy from some of the smaller islands, whose trade returns I have not in my possession and am therefore unable to give the figures — from Jamaica as well as from the other islands; but the impression cannot be avoided that a very large amount of our sugar — nay, the bulk of it as it appears to me, must come from the United States, from middle men, that we are thus giving undue importance to their trade to the detriment of our own. So much is this the case that the gentleman from Trinidad, already referred to, stated to me that in estimating the sugar sales for the year, the operations with Canada were so small that Canada was never taken into account. CANADA AND THE WEST INDIES. lo one the United lin, while from e United States ;h we buy they t hundred and iana and Bar- United States •ts from these disparity still I in the sugar United States en weeks, that lid amount to is worth per IS sum repre- , to my mind The vessel, ) Philadelphia it Indian trade on board some ng the port of y one-half the sh Guiana and let us forget in e of the West as commerce, b kindly upon [ence, the more sibly be drawn extent be in- ference to that iuction of its must neces- than a nation rally inquires, ith as import- r our sugar to m some of the ossession and 3 well as from that a very 's to me, must •e thus giving m. So much y referred to, )he operations to account. :l What we want is that all this shall be changed. That what Canada is going to do will be a matter of moment to these colonies, and that when the sales for the year are estimated, that Canadian operations will be found too important to be overlooked. We cannot, of course, be the large consumers of the sugars, the fruits, the cocoa, and other products of the West Indian Colonies, that the United States are, by reason of the difference in our population. But we can be pu -chasers from them direct of all that we need, and thus make our trade of greater value, and of greater importance to them than it has ever yet been. I cannot say whether or not the United States offer greater inducements to these colonies to send their products to their markets, than we offer them in order that they may send their products to ours ; and hence I cannot be charged with introducing political issues. But I think I may safely add, that it is only reasonable that the West Indian Colonies should find with us, to whom the}' are so closely allied, inducements at least equal to those which they find with the United States, which stand in the relation to them of a foreign power. That if any disparity exists at present, and such disparity militates against us and in favour of the United States, I do not hesitate to say that it is our duty at the earliest possible moment, and having respect for existing interests, to remove such differences, so that the interests of our customers and not sentiment ought to be the ground and the only one upon which we ought to look for the trade of these colonies. And indeed without this, fast steamers, cheapened cable communication, regular and efficient postal service would be unavailing. We might desire the trade but we would not get it ! ! It must have been gratifying to all who heard the Minister of Finance, in his exhaustive speech at the Board of Trade banquet, tell of the efforts now being made by the Government to open up trade with India, New Zealand, with the Australias, with Brazil, which country alone is nearly as large as Europe, is larger than British India, is larger than China, is larger than the United States, and only smaller than Russia and the Do- minion of Canada, with Venzuela, and with the Argentine Confederation, and of the arrangements now being made for the subsidizing of lines of fast steamers, in connection with these routes Each member of this Board can only wish for those efiorts the greatest possible success. I trust the Board will take immediate action to have the West Indian Colonies embodied in this new departure. For, while a trade may fairly be expected from New Zealand and the Australias, I venture the opinion that the trade with these Colonies, in- cluding Brazil, Venzuela, and the Argentine Confederation, is one that will bring to Canada, not only more speedily, but more rapidly, successful results. Were it nothing but their contiguity to us a« compared with other remote Colonies this alone would point them out to us as our natural markets. But you may ask, and very properly, what proof have we that those Colonies desire close and more extended commercial relations with us ? That is a very proper question, and should be_^f ully answered. 10 CANADA AND THE WEST INDIES. Hi I am able to say that when in Deraerara a very large number of the reprc-sentative men of the Colony, merchants, bankers, planters, attorneys of estates, and others, were good enough to afford me an opportunity of addressing them in the Exchange rooms ; of addressing them as a private individual travelling for my own pleasure and information, having with me, it is true, a letter signed by the President and Secretary of your Board, and under its seal of Incorporation, accrediting me as a member of its Council, of listening to me, as I assured them that any utterance of mine committed no one but myself, and that statements made by me were made solely upon my own responsibility ; — yet were good enough, I say, to pass a resolution declaring : " That this Colony warmly desires closer business relations with C!an- ada." My reference to Demerara is made with no invidious distinction. The same sentiments were uttered by merchants and planters in the other islands and in the same generous manner ; but the time at my dis- posal in the other islands was too brief to have the marked and unani- mous expression which cViaracterized the meeting in Demerara presented in the other islands. Be assured then that the Colonies are ripe for any arrangement which will be of mutual advantage to them and to us. Such an arrangement they desire, and will rejoice when it will so ripen as to bring the mer- chants of both countries into closer business intimacy. To some present this address has been, I have no doubt, disappointing. They came here, it may be, expecting some description possibly of the physical conformation and of the ])roducts of these islands, of the people, of the institutions, of the climate. To them I would say, go and visit these islands if you can possibly spare the time, and witness with your own eyes that beauty which no words of mine could picture. To others I have perhaps presented figures which have levealed facts not hitherto known, and have possibly made it apparent to them that there is a large and an increasing trade to be carried on between Canada and the West Indies. To such I would say also, go make the circuit of the islands which I have made, and jn every one, in addition to the new world which it will open to you, you will find possibilities of busi- ness which perhaps have not hitherto engaged your attention. Go to Santa Cruz, to St. Kitts, to Antigua, to Montserrat, to Guadaloup, to Tobago. Go to Barbadoes, to Trinidad, to Demerara ; see the harbours of these latter places crowded with shipping from every quarter of the globe, see the bustle and activity which characterize wharves and landing places, and while you will bring back with you lasting impressions, as I am sure you will, of what British enterprise can accomplish, as evi- denced in these colonies, leave upon them your own impression of what can be accomplished by Canadian energy. I feel that I cannot bring my remarks to a close more fittingly than by putting into a very few words the impressions which, in my journeying, I found took possession of me. CAN- A DA AND TIIK WKST IN'Di;;S. 17 Qs with C!an- Stcaniing from about oB*^ 20" north, where our way hiy throii;^!! im- inonso icebergs, sixty of which we would see in one day, and where the li irdy Nmvfotmdlandor amid snow and ico plies his trade; stoamitiLj ou- wiu'd and southward to within six de'^roijs of tlie e([uator, wliero the tv^m- ])ijraturo of tlie oeoan is SG'^, and where summer perpetually reiij^ns, I found on that great expanse of ocean, continuous evidence of the domi- nance of British comTuercc. T found in ovcvy colony I visited not only that IJritaiti had left upon each the marks of her p'-owess, but the blessings of hnr civili/cition. I felt, as I never had reallzol l)eforo, un lor circnustauces ami couditions as opposite as they could well nigh be, that at eai,-h ex- treme the power and influence of ttio empire were equally great, and • ' |uallv great for good. (Jonnocted with such a power, 1 thought upon our possibilities of development ; I thought upon our future ; 1 thought upon our destiny. But this was the one thought which most impressed me — That our destiny was in our own hands and not in the hands of any foieign power, however near or however great"., and realizing this fidly I fi'lt that if in working it out we were but true to those s^reat undi-rlviu'- [»rinciples of truth and righteousness, which are the guarantees, not only of a nation's prosperity but of a nation's stability; if we were but ti'ue to ur (;ountry and true to ourselves notliing could stand in the w,iy of n* |)rogress. nothing could Ity any possibility retard our develo[)ment. Vnv then wo shoulii bo prosperous and contented at home, and we should lit! honored and respected abroad. At the close of the Sonatc^r's remarks, it was moved by 1). U. Wilki*', sceojidt'd by S. F. MacKinnon, That the thanks of tins meeting be and ;ire hei'cby tendered to the lion. Jolm Micdoiiald for his ablii, interesting •,\n<\ instructive report of Ids recent investigations in the We^t In lies and lirirish Guiana, and that the same b(> printt'd and issued to the niemliers ol this board, and to the Boards of Trade of the Dominion. Carried with a])iilanse. Moved by W. B. Ilamilton, seconded by A. M. Sn.iith, That the CDuncil of this l)oard be instructed to take into consideration the manv matters referred to in this report as to the best methods of opening upan oxteu'led trade with the West India islands, and at the same; time to indicate what steps would be deemed best in approaching the Government in order to secure these ends, and to report at an early meeting of the board. Car- ried unanimously. EDGAR A. WILLS, Secr2tari/. () 1)1