HIGH COMMISSIONER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1512, 7 August 1912, Page 8

HIGH COMMISSIONER.

-————•- HIS AIM AT HOME, MARKETS A!s"rf OTHER MATTERS. (By Tftlciri-aph.—Press Association.) Dunedin, August G. The Hon. T, Mackenzie, High Commissioner, attended a meeting of the Cliumber >f Commerce to-day, and heard suggesions from members relative to the development of the Dominion's trade. The chief points emphasised by tlio ■pcakers were the great scarcity- of inlustriul hands- and farm labourers, improved access (o Continental market?, jrenler attention to the quality of stock ior the Dominion, and the reform of tho High Commissioner's Office in London. In reply, Mr. Mackenzie said that, with increasing competition throughout the world, it would bo well to have more than duo market for our staple pruducts, and it should'be possible in tho not far distant future, to obtain better ucce« to tht Continental markets. Tho difficulty at present was with the tariffs and regulations that discriminated very severely against colonial products. Ho would devote, a great deal of time to opening markets on the Continent, and also in America if possible. Germany at present had almost consumed its flocks and the moat that they required to supply to theii peoplo now was often first sterilised, lie belifived. that would not long continue. Tho.matter of securing :t reduction of tht rates for wool into America was, he believed, only a matter of time, as both sides there were in. favour of reduction The presont'rates of 11 cents, 22 ci'nts, ami 33 cents per lb. for greasy, washed, am scoured wools were having a very serious effect on the American people, for tlioj were beginning to substitute cotton '-good! for woollen. He regarded the reorganis ation of.the London office as absolutely necessary. They ought to get into Trafiu gar Square, or some other prominent posi tion, and he hoped to be able to di something approximating to what ra being done by the Canadian Government or the Commonwealth. Possibly ' thej might 1» able to effect some saving ci some of the exhibitions, which had litlli elt'ect in. attracting public attention. H< had other .ideas also, to which he hopei to give effect. Regarding the complain of scarcity of labour, he could see tha there was easily room in New Zealaiu for another 500,000 people of the riglv class. lie. fully believed in opening ti] the country and securing more population With reference to improving stock, Mr Cuddie hud computed that wo could in crease our exports by 50 per cent, b; securing a higher class of cattle. Thou sands of tows at present were not. payinj board nnd lodging. At Pareora there wa: a Holstein herd , in which one of the cow gave, more than 1 cwt. of milk per day One cow this year had already given ove eight tons-of milk, and the butter valw of her milk was nearly £iO without skim milk. -He. expressed his belief also in i policy of. specialisation. ■• He. hoped li continue this) and have expert officers ii each.J)epartment to .advise producers here He would recommend producers to sell-oi the-grade certificate, and riot.be led astro; by tlio' "all risk" policy. - By -this inea'n wntracts and Home arbitration could l> avoided.