CAN IT BE TRUE?

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2074, 27 February 1889, Page 3

CAN IT BE TRUE?

The •• Herald " haa the following, which Interests New Zealand exporters of prodace, and the farming Intereit generally J — " If this oolony aspires to take a lead Id oommeroe It muit trade ' fair,' and If the itatementn contained m the lettoi from oar oorreipondeut at Hamilton are.to be taken as generally distinctive of New Zealand trading, we have a good deal to learn. Onr correspondent telli us that an old and well-known Auckland settlei now visiting Walkato, was In Sydney lately, and ezpreislng aurprUe to an importer of produoe there as to the comparatively low price brought bj Now Zealand produce, was confidentially let Into the seoret. Ho wu shown some bales of New Zealand bay, and invited to take one at random and slit Its binding and judge for himself. The test having been applied, the Inside of one balo showed that two of the ' scats ' were dove, tailed ao as to bind together even more worthleis rubbish, while In another a quantity of New Zealand fl iz was stowed away as fodder for Sydney horses; and to thli ooular demonstration there was added the Imparted Information that the side of a bale Is sometimes filled with stones by way of variety, and for the Inorease of lta avoirdupois. The plaolng of the big potatoes at the mouth of a siok and the Uttle ones below, It appears, Is also an artless trlok of the New Zealand trader ; and altogether, If tbls fairly samples onr commercial principles, New Zealand is endeavoring to keep lta reputation on the other ilde for the tavoir faire which came to us with the heroio polloy of borrowing and general soramble."— "Otago Pally Tldjh' " AuoVUnd QorreipQQdqnt,