338 



THE AGFJCULTUllAL NEWS. 



OcTouER 30, 1909. 



than the closest interchange of trade between its con- 

 stituent parts, and that the Coiiunissioii would be glad 

 to receive suggestions, from any source, for ihe improve- 

 ment of transportation facilities, cheaper communication, 

 and the promotion of better trade relations generally 



At Halifax, the first session was held on October 1. 

 In opening this, the President of the Board of 

 Trade extended a welcome to the Commissioners on 

 behalf of that Board, and referred to the long period 

 that had elapsed, during which trade had been carried 

 on between Halifax and the West Indies. The Com- 

 mission was also welcomed by the Mayor, on behalf 

 of the City. In reply, Lord Balfour of Burleigh made 

 acknowledgement, on behalf of himself and his 

 colleagues, for all the care and trouble that had been 

 taken for the purpose of making their visit a success. 

 He also read the exact terms of the instructions that 

 had been given to the Commissioners, which w^jre as 

 follows ; 'To make inquiry into the present condition 

 and future prospects of trade between Canada and Our 

 West Indian Colonies, and to suggest measures for 

 promoting closer trade relations between them, includ- 

 ing not only the special matters referred to in the 

 minutes of the Privy Council of Canada, but also such 

 matters as the improvement of transportation and 

 a cheaper and more efficient telegraph system, together 

 with all other matters that appear to you to be best 

 calculated to strengthen and extend commerce and 

 communication between Canada and the West Indies. 



At Ottawa, it was explained by the Deputy 

 Minister of Trade and Commerce (Mr. O'Hara) that 

 Canada paid 556.5,700 yearly for a twelve-day steamship 

 service from Halifax to the West Indies, and it was 

 stated by him, as well as by others, that an improved 

 service was required. Further, Mr. McDougall, Com- 

 missioner of Customs, submitted a report showing that 

 the exports from the Dominion to the West Indies 

 were of the value of $2,847,:581 in 1»0(), and of 

 $3,090,468 in 1908. He stated that there was evidence 

 that preference promoted trade between Canada and 

 the West Indies. 



The Commissioners met again at Toronto on 

 September 27, when the evidence showed once more 

 that the present transport facilities are insufficient, 

 and a fast line of steamers from Canadian ports was 

 advocated. 



At the Halifax sessions, there was again unanimity 

 in the demand for efficient means of communication 

 between Canada and the W^est Indies. In addition, 

 some of the witnesses advocated the provision of 

 vessels fitted with refrigerating apparatus, which 



would carry meat to the West Indies and would return 

 with fruit, and that such vessels should be adapted as 

 far as possible to pass orer the bars at those port.s 

 where these were present, in order that distant anchor- 

 age should be avoideij, with the consequent saving in 

 time and money with regard to lighterage. It was 

 also suggested that there should be a direct steamship 

 service to and from JMontreal in the summer, with 

 a change to St. John in the winter. Evidence was 

 fu'thcoming to show that the route by way of the 

 United States had no advantages over tke direct 

 Canadian one. 



Other subjects that were dealt with were the 

 alvisability of increasing the scope of the Canadian 

 banking concerns in the West Indies, the concessions 

 to Canadian refiners contained in the last budget, the 

 grai;tin(' o! a ijieference tariff for Bnti-sh-Lrroun sii^ar 

 and the necessity tor better cable communication. In 

 connexion with the first, it was agreed that the 

 expense incident on the upkeep of branch banks 

 in the West Indies was severe, and that trade on 

 a preferential basis would make commercial conditions 

 easier. The opinions as to the present state of the 

 relations between the Canadian refiner and the West 

 Indian sugar producer were conflicting. The general 

 consensus of opinion, in a broad way, was however, 

 that the trade between the two countries woidd improve 

 if nuitual concessions were made. 



It is expected that the Commission will meet 

 again in the West Indies in the month of February, 

 1910. 



AN OIL TRACTOR FOR IMPLE- 

 MENTAL TILLAGE. 



The A[i ric uU a lul Journal of India gives an 

 account of an engine for impleniental tillage and other 

 agriciiltural operations, which is known as Marshall's 

 30 horse- power Oil 'J'ractor. 



This oil tractor is inanufactured by Messrs. .Marshall, 

 Sons A Co., Ltd., of (laiushoTOiigb, England, with the 

 object of sup[)lyiHg a clu'ai) mechanical power for agri- 

 cultural i)uri)ost'.s, which may possibly be useful in India. 



The tractor is fitted witli a two-cyliiuler engine and has 

 three speeds, \i, 4, and miles per hour. Tlie engine c;ui be 

 run on iietrol, kerosene, ben/.ine, gasoline, etc. With tanks 

 lilleil with ker<isciK', it can he. run lor ten hours continuously. 



The engine is tittcd with wide travelling wlieels to 

 travel over .sandy ground. In working order, it weigljs 

 approximately ih tons and carries 2o gallon.s of fuel and 7-5 

 gallons of water ; it is fitted with a water cooler and a patent 

 pump f.>r circulating water tliroiigh the cylinder jacket. 



'I'he engine can be used for iilongidng, liarrowing, cultiva- 

 ting, .sowing, rea]iing and hauling : it can also be used for 

 driviiij; any tixcil machinery such as threshing and winnov.- 

 iiig machine.^, corn and cakc-j;iiiuiing mills, chalf cutlers, etc., 

 without any addition or alteration. Tiiis engine drives a full 



