The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MARCH 25, 1902.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 374, 25 March 1902, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, MARCH 25, 1902.

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE, A special correspondent writes a very interesting letter giving a report of an interview with Mr Gow, the New Zealand Trade Commissioner in Eolith Africa. The information is. reprinted for the benefit of our readers, “In South Africa,” Mr Gow said, “ I watched carefully the, unloading of produce. It was simply bundled into a dirty sail, slung out anyhow, and delivered dirty and broken, This was Australian produce, but, thinking of our own, I remonstrated, and there was soon an improvement. As to the advisableness of our Government erecting depots for storing produce in South Africa, it was feared that there might not be sufficient accommodation supplied by priyate enterprise in South Africa, and that produce might be forced upon the market for want of

storage facilities. But I found there were three big storage concerns in South Africa : the South African Cold Storage and Supply Company, De Beers, and Kamps, They were all competing, but the Supply Company has a practical monopoly. It is a gigantic concern, and ha.s“controlled nearly the whole supply of meat to our forces at the front. The contract at first was to supply mutton at lOd per lb and beef at lid, but the price now is 7d per lb. At the same time, the company supplies butchers at 4Ad. Their profits for last year exceeded £1,000,000. Leaving the other companies out of the question, I do not think it advisable to enter into competition with a concern like that.” “ The South African Storage and Supply Company,” continued Mr Gow “ practically control the trade. The De Beers Company has entered into competition, but, from what I am able to learn, is getting none the best ;of the fight. There is another company, known as tile Transvaal Cold Storage Company, which was started under Kruger auspices, and is consequently rather out of the running. Its manager is Mr Palmer, formerly of New Zealand, and I understand is about to launch out 'in a new direction with a very considerable prospect of success. As to the prospects for the introduction of New Zealand produce, there is practically an unlimited market in South Africa for nearly every class. To begin with butter, this is imported from Australia in bulk, lib tins, and in lib pats. I

found that the bulk butter should be packed in boxes containing s(ilb, and the pats and tins in cases of HKJ packip ages, neither more nor less. The [ a wholesale price is about i(J|d for bulk blitter and HJd for pats. Butter in 10 tins brings 14s the dozen wholesale, and is retailed at about 18s per dozen. For cheese there is also a great de;s ’ mand, in loaves of from 121 b to 141 b. ip Then, with regard to eggs, these are at present imported from Madiera in baskets, and from England in a liquid state.' There is a great opening in e South Africa for New Zealand eggs, n- Poultry,, hares, and rabbits arrive is, from Australia in crates of a dozen or lgt two dozen.” “ There is a steady and persistent demand for oats known as 111 New Zealand ‘ stouts,’ ” Mr .Clow id went on to say. “ But much of the New Zealand oats sent .to South Africa are re-shipped to Sydney in 801 b bags. There seemed to he an opinion that’the New Zealand flour was not so strong as the South a and American. I was told that American wheat had been shipped to y. New Zealand, and the millers there , e had admitted that they could not ’ supply so strong a flour from the local , product. On the other hand, I learned “’ that 10s per ton over current prices' had been paid for New Zealand flour m in Durban for the purpose of blending. There was no great demand for oaten hay before the war, but a good deal had been used in South Africa during the past two years ; there is also a steady demand for lucerne, pressed and wired in trusses of lewt each. I j. took some woollen goods to South Africa,” said Mr Gow, “ and they 1 were .very much admired by all who saw them. At the same time, the general opinion appeared to he that they were much too heavy, hearing in mind the requirements of (lie climate.” In fact, Mr Gow experienced the same difficulty with' regard to manufactured goods as has been experienced here, namely, that New Zealand woollen manufactures are too good. Among other things, Mr Gow said he noticed a fine opening for frozen New Zealand oysters, particularly in Johannesburg; i'ery few oysters were produced on tiie Spilth African coast, and a good de--1 mand was experienced for oysters everywhere. It was necessary to depend largely upon tinned oysters from America at the present time. With, reference to tinned and dried fruits, Mr Gow expressed the opinion that we would have to compete witli the Americans, who put up their goods in a most attractive manner with artistic labels. At the present time the South African people do not know what New Zealand can do in the way of supplying them with produce, and they will have to he educated up to it-.. The reason is that tine inherence between New Zealand and Australian freights has always been front os to 7s 6d per ton in favor of Australia.” Then Mr Gow went on to say what he had lormerjy stated as to special boats for the South African trade, and he said : J have recommended boats of light draught, which is an advantage in all the "South African pods, and more particularly at Durban, where there is , a bar. There is a charge of os per , ton for lighterage over the bar there, and it Is a great advantage to save , that. Port Elizabeth, which 1 also , visited, is a free port. I hate an idea , that this port will play an important t part in the future of the import trade f with South Africa. A rumor is afloat -j iliat the Transvaal Cold Storage Com- v pany'is aboiit to build a. depot there , 1 indeed, I was informed definitely that c the necessary plant was upon ne u water. A certain amount of incon. a venience in the carrying trade arises t> iin consequence of the ships’ captains t ] having the option to otercarrj . r or, p that reason the South African mer- a chants insist on all transactions being it

c.i.T., or ex ship. Then, should the freight he overcarried, the responsibility lies, not with them, hut with the shipping company, or the producer. It must be remembered, too, that it is customary in South Africa to estimate a ton as containing 20081 b ; and New Zealand producers will probably

find it convenient to observe this convention.” Mr Gow expressed himself as feeling sure, with equal carrying facilities, that New Zealand would very soon be a formidable competitor for the Americans, the Canadians, and the Australians, who at the present time had so large a, share of the African trade^ TATTERSALL. A correspondent states that the scheme by which “ Tattersall ” hopes to defeat the efforts of the Federal Parliament towards his suppression is outlined in a circular he has issued, copies of which have been received in New Zealand. Clients are to address Tattersall communications to themselves’. Whoever desires to subscribe to la Tattersall sweep, and cannot send a draft or postal note has to send his post office order in a letter, bearing

his own name, but with a Hobart address. On getting the order be is to sign it himself on the line left for the payee’s receipt, and put it in the envelope addressed to himself. The order thus becomes payable" to the sender’s own name at Hobart. In order to authorise Adams to take delivery of the letters sent thus addressed, clients are to send a signed authority authorising “ the secretary of the stock exchange or his deputy,” to receive the letters, cash the orders, and

act as their agents. It is to be hoped that this effort to dodge the letter and spirit of the law will be promptly dealt with. Why should a great gambling concern be allowed to thus openly defy the Commonwealth ? People who have money to send from New Zealand would be wiser to hold it lest it be impounded.