NEW MARKETS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1555, 26 September 1912, Page 8

NEW MARKETS.

BIG OPENING IN CANADA. MR, E. W. BELrH INTERVIEWED. Among (lie returned New Zealanders by the Mauriganui yesterday was Mr. E. W. R-elph, general manager of the NewZealand Farmers' Co-operative Association, of Christclmrcli, who has been on a'll extended visit to America, England, and the Continent. Mr. Kelph said that ho had intended to have a good holiday, hut a. man in,business finds it very hard to givo himself up to enjoyment when at every turn he iinds things'which interest him in connection with his business, and meets people who either do business with his firm or wisli to do so ill the future. Mr. liclph said that he Itad an idea of keeping a look-out for any now ideas which lie thought might be of serVICD to the association, and at the same time he kept in view the need of expandtlie markets for export products. "I went through Canada," states Mr. liolph, "and from tho inquiries I made 1 believe that (hero will be an excellent market for our dairy produce, chiefly our butter. There is already a good demand in and round Vancouver—<i rapidly-growing city and district, and I have "appointed a very reputable firm agents for tho association there. In time I believe you will find our butter being sold «s far east as Toronto and Montrealthey like our butter—and during our season' they are in short supply as a rule. The prices realised show a cond margin of profit on what we could land butter in Toronto. Then there is a stroug reciprocal feeling in tho air, and lots of things we want could bo supplied by Canada. Seeds, for instance, of varinMc 1-iiirU could b A ii'"ini'ted f'mn Canada, with gain fo the farmer. Then there is tho frozen meat trade—that will come later on. but at present boats such as the Zealandia are altogether too small for tho trade. The C.P.Iv. is buildine a IS,OOO-ton steamer, I understand, for the Canadian-Australian trade, which wilt work in with present steamers, in which, I beliove, the C.P.E. are already interested. "I would like to see this lino open out more, so that wo could get our American goods from Vancouver instead of them coming via England, as at present. Mo'tor-cars for instance. Wo sell about <100 -motor-cars in a season, nearly all from the United States. Why shouldn't iiiey bo shipped norlh to the C.l'.R. line, ami brought west for shipment, at Vancouver, instead of being railed to New York for transhipment toT.oudon? 1 believe I his 'All-Tied' lino oiHit to bo even a bigger thing than it is now." Mr. liolpli went over all the big universal stores in the cities visited, and saw manv ideas that he would like to sidnpfc in Christchurch. But there were others, excellent in their way, which are adap'ed only to tho conditions of the country and the'immense size of the business. l''oi instance, at Wanamaker's he saw hundred'" of parcels belli.'.' tii-.il up, lah'lled, and thrown into ditVerent receptacles, which were really the months of shoots. These eondue'ed the parcels to different delivery centres, just, as you post letters in different slots, according to how tliey are directed. That was nil very well in a huge business like Wainnmker's. but would not lie worth while in Christchurch. He also inquired into the working system of the big co-operative Mores in England, and became possessed of a. deal of valuable information one nny e.nd another. One of the finest co-eperalivo stores was that in Manchester, which has its own factories, and manufactures all manner el' goods from the raw material. As an example, it. had a soap fnclory wli'cli tiii-ii- i •nil tl.'iil tons of soan n week, and a jam factory which made IS,OIIO lons of jam a year. Mr. E. W. lvelph goes on to Christchurch this cvcninß by the Mauiigamii.