The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 1895. EXTENDING OUR MARKETS.

Feilding Star, Issue 158, 3 January 1895, Page 2

The Feilding Star. Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 1895. EXTENDING OUR MARKETS.

« — A forward movement is taking place in the colonies just now in the matter of extending and opening fresh aven- ] ues of trade for the disposal of their surplus products. Especially is this the case in Australia, and though- it is gratifying to note that our Government is not oblivious to so urgent a matter, still, much more, we think, might and ought to be done in this ; direction. There is no question so im- , portant to a country as the healthful- i ness and growth of her foreign trade, and especially in the case of New Zea land, which is practically a producing country, depending for her very exis- J tence upon the Home markets to absorb her surplus. Time was when this matter could be left to the individual trader to do all that was needed but international commerce has fol- | lowed in the track of the almost uui versal evolution of the age, and Governments are now forced to devote their chief labors to matters of an economic and socialistic character. New Zealanders have always — well, perhapß, not boasted —but at all events claimed that their country could hold its own in any department, almost, of production against ah comers, whether with truth, yet remains to be seen, for the uncomfortable fact has loomed up lately that Argentina, the United States, and even our sister colonies across the Tasuian Sea are " shaking up their bridle reins " and •' making the pace a bit warm " For quality of mutton and a certain class of wool perhaps they are never likely to beat us, but in other directions it is not at all certain that we will have a lead. Victoria lias passed us by in the dairy industry, so also iv the export of pork, fruit, and other articles, aud iv oue or two of the above products we very nearly believed that we held a mono poly in these seas. Australia, Argentina and the United States have the advantage of cheaper land and more of it ; cheaper freights and a shorter distance from the Home markets. These are advantages hardly compensated for on our part, and the best efforts of the iadividual producer or shipper may fail to obtain the same reward as their more fortunate competitors else where. If New Zealand is to hold her own, Government, we feel sure, must put foith greater efforts It really amounts to a demand at the present juncture. Canada ia stepping out to meet us, the wool market of the United States — a country that consumes something like 30 per cent of the world's total wool production, is now open to us, and if we don't have a care some of our competitors may obtain " a first footing," We see what may be done by Government action in the matter of timber export j 'twere better not to wait to be shown the way as regards other expoits. The deve opment of our foreign trade is the question of the hour ; we hope to see Government taking the most active steps possible in this direction.