326 TlMEHR!. 
ever, it has been more than rumoured, that Canada is 
anxious to make a treaty of reciprocity with some sugar- 
growing country, both Cuba and Brazil being named, 
and it was mentioned last April in the Colonies and In- 
dia^ that the Finance Minister of the Dominion, speaking 
recently in the Canadian Parliament on the budget, 
stated, that the Government had taken into considera- 
tion the representations of the West India merchants of 
Halifax (Nova Scotia) for a modification of the tariff as 
regards the importation of raw sugar into the Dominion. 
The Government propose to reduce the duty on sugar 
imported from the country of growth to 27! 0/0, making 
the invoice for the payment of the duty free on board, 
including packages and all charges. 
This movement shows that Canada has a desire to pro- 
vide cheaper sugar for her people, and we have heard 
lately of new refineries being opened, as if the demand 
were increasing. 
I should not be surprised if some Financial Represen- 
tative were here to interpolate, " If we were to remit 
duties in favour of Canada how is the deficiency to be 
made up?" This is obviously a proper objection, and 
will have to be fought out whichever way you turn, whe- 
ther to America or to Canada. Nature abhors a vacuum, 
used to be said, and so does a Secretary of State for the 
Colonies abhor a vacuum in the revenues of a West 
Indian Colony, for the right administration of which he 
is responsible. 
There may be sources of revenue at present untapped, 
and so it is premature to prejudge the question, but I 
think we should all realize now, that when the time 
comes, if it does come, an attempt will most probably be 
