The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JAN. 6, 1883. THE CONDITION OF TRADE.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 58, 6 January 1883, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JAN. 6, 1883. THE CONDITION O F TRADE.

♦■ The state of the colonial money market is just now receiving a considerable share of attention from the Press, and some of our contemporaries take the coloring 1 of their opinions apparently trom the financial condition of the town or district from whence they derive their support. Following this lead we will offer a few remarks on this vital question, confining them as j closely as possible to what may be considered our local relations with the great centres of capital, or their ; representatives, the banks. In our immediate neighborhood there has been no over-buying or speculation of any kind, the attention of the sawmillers, farmers, stock-raiser3 and others having been occupied tor the most pare in legitimate trade or labor. The imports ot goods of all kinds have, for the past twelve months, been only equal to meet current demands, while the exports of timber, grain, wool, <fee, have been steadily increasing. These particular articles can never fail to find a ready market, and the returns will only tend to increase the general wealth. The increased demand for timber has made it compulsory on the sawmillers to extend the cutting power of their machinery. The splendid grain crops that are seen on every side promise an abundant harvest, and the wool clip is exceptionally heavy. The prices of these three important factors in the welfare of a country are high, and a wide margin exists for a fall, and even if this should be inevitable, our settlers are in that fortunate condition that they can afford to hold their produce, and protect themselves from loss. That the banking institutions have made extensive advances on wool and crops is admitted, and such advances have been beneficial to the settlers and profitable to the shareholders, and in every case where neceseary such advances will be repeated for the coming season, ao that we need expect no tightness in money from this source. It must also be remembered that our revenue is not of a fluctuating nature, depending* on irregular sources for its supplies. As far as anything human is positively certain, our products from which it is derived are only changeable by being increased in volume, and there exißts little or uo possibility of a diminution to any appreciable extent unless the whole country be overtaken by some calamity impossible to be foreseen or provided against. As far as concerns our local storekeepers or traders their positions appear well secured, and their sound business habits are assisted by a remarkably good cl.iss of con* Burners, who are for the a- ost part tolerably well provided with the world's gear, or are in the receipt of liberal wages. Another cause of stability is the prudence displayed on all sides by the so-called working classes, who seem bent on making provision for the future by availing themselves ot the facilities offered by the Government Savings Bank to an extent that is unsurpassed in any other part of the colony. The unhappy victims of intemperance, so common in other places, cannot find a resting place here, or if they do, a change, compelled by the example of others in sobriety, j is soon effected for the better. These truths being admitted, it is easy for us to receive with feelings of incredulity any rumors of an approaching financial crisis. We are glad to notice that very excellent journal, the Wellington Post, is of the opinion that there is no ground for alarm as to the prospects of trade generally in New Zealand, and we cordially agree with that journal in the stand it takes against alarmists, who, by their senseless outcry, would convey a portion of their childish fears to the directors of banks, and lead them to make a real out of a supposed evil by suddenly withdrawing all advances now outstanding, to their own loss and the injury of their clients.