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first is that in the Dominions I think we have now definitely
turned the corner of depression, and are beginning again to
assume an upward course in our commercial and industrial
development. (Cheers) I believe that the light on the
horizon which is visible when looking in our direction should
bring encouragement to those of the old land who, being
nearer the seat of war during the years of the great catastrophe,
have suffered most of all parts of the Empire. Having suffered
most I think you may feel that, as the cloud is lifting for us,
the dawn is also breaking more brightly for you. (Cheers.)
I would like you also to feel that in Canada there is a country
which affords great opportunities for the investment of men
and of capital in a manner which will be of service alike to
the Dominions and to this old land. Immediately after the
demobilisation period following the war, we suffered like you
have a period of considerable depression. We had a good
deal of unemployment, and we were obliged to draw on our
Federal Treasury for large sums to relieve it. During that
period it was not possible, indeed it was not advisable, for us
to seek to open wide the doors to peoples coming from other
parts of the world. Had we done so we would only have
created congestion in our cities, and probably have set back
for some considerable time the larger flow of emigration
which we hoped would come in due course. Having turned
the corner we are now throwing open the doors, and we
welcome to our Dominion men and women from this old land
who come to help to build up the British Empire, believing
that in the growing expansion of our nation there is an
opportunity for a large number of those who may come from
this country, if they are willing to work and to do their part.
We feel that through this opportunity we will be able to help
ourselves and perhaps also to help you in the solution of one
of your great problems. We also believe that Canada affords
a great field of investment for capital, and that the British
investor will be helping not only himself but us also in
building up that portion of the British Empire. In a few
words I shall seek to give you a few outstanding facts which
speak for themselves, for they will enable you to judge better
than any words of mine whether or not Canada at this time
is a country which affords the opportunities I have been
describing, and whether there is reason for the hopeful outlook
to-which I have made allusion.
~ With" regard to the immediate situation: Canada’s
recovery from the slump of 1920-21 is plainly. to be seen.
Our crops of the three great cereals, wheat, oats and barley,
are the largest in our history. Last year we attained the
proud position of being the largest exporter of wheat in the