THE MARKETS.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 178, 28 January 1895, Page 2

THE MARKETS.

Considerable attention is being given to the state of trade between the col ony and England, and some very instructive figures have been published by the Dunedin Star in dealing with this very important subject. Our contemporary points out the enormous depreciation in prices there has been within the last twelve j'ears in the staple products of the colony, and says : — ln 1882 the average price rea lised for the wool exported from New Zealand was IHd per lb ; in 1892 it was reduced to BJd on a total expTt of 108,180,9121b5— a decrease of 3d per lb. The rate is eveu lower now, averaging somewhere about 6^d. Compared with the prices in 1882, this represents a loss to the colony of about 35 per cent. Taking another export, grain, the value realised per bushel in 1882 was 4s 2d, and in 1892 was only 2s sd, and may now be quoted at a penny leos. This, on an export of nearly 6,000,000 bushels, involves an enormous diminution of material wealth. In 1882 again, the frozen meat exported was worth 25s 4d per cwt ; in 1892 the price was down to 23s 9d In 1882 New Zealand flour realised £20 Us per ton ; in 1892 it was £16 Ids Gd, and there bas been no substantial recovery. It must be remembered, however, that although the prices ar« low now as compared with those of 1882, yet the cost of production has been decreased by the in troduction of labor saving agricultural machinery, and a reduction in wages in every branch of industry. Of course •ye are only looking at the question from the same standpoint as our con temporary, that is, the producers. High prices for home products means nigh wages, which carry with them general prosperity and happiness to a certain extent, and we would all like to see a return of the high values which obtained in 1882,