The Globe. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1874.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 93, 17 September 1874, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1874.

On the occasion of the recent monthlymeeting of the Committee of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, a subject of more than ordinary importance, not alone to the mercantile community, but to the whole province, was brought before that body by its newly-elected chairman, Mr L. E. Nathan. So important, in all its bearings, upon what promises to be a large trade, was the suggestion made by Mr Nathan, that we are somewhat at a loss to understand how it was it did not receive that amount of consideration at the hands of the committee to which it was entitled. The suggestion made was that

inspectors should be appointed to examine grain at the various ports of shipment in the colony before being placed on board ship, and that a system of brands of various kinds should be used to denote the respective qualities. The mail arriving just before the meeting was held, brought the intelligence that New Zealand wheat had fjvJlt-n in price, consequent upon the bad condition in which the shipments had reached the home market, and in his remarks Mr Nathan referred to this as a strong argument in favour of his scheme. It does not appear, so far as we can gather from the report of the meeting, that Mr Nathan brought forward any detailed scheme ; but this was hardly necessary at the outset. Once let the principle be affirmed, and the details could very easily be worked out. There can be no doubt that there are cogent arguments in favor of such a course. The growth of grain, more especially wheat, has largely increased during the past year in this province, and looking to the fact that large numbers of people are being poured in, and as a necessary consequence a very large extent of land being taken up, it is only fair to assume that next year will show a very much more marked increase over the preceding one. Farmers, who from want of the necessary labor to extend their operations, have been obliged only to crop just what they were able to manage with the means at their disposal, will now, that labor is becoming more abundant, increase to a very appreciable degree the area of the land in grain, hence the exports as a natural consequence will be at least 50 per cent more than last year. Now, let us see the exports of wheat from Canterbury for the years 1878 and 1874, and note the increase of the latter over the former. In 1873 the export of wheat from Canterbury amounted to 283,273 bushels, valued at £66,807, while in 1874 it was 783,698 bushels, valued at £134,010, The increase, it will be seen, was very large, nearly 500,000 bushels in round numbers, but large as this may seem, it is fair to suppose, for the reasons above mentioned, that the exports for 1875 will show a still greater increase. Taking these facts into consideration, it will be seen that the trade is one of very great importance, a trade too which year by year will assume still larger proportions, hence it is in the highest degree necessary that we should take all precautions to ensure our grain reaching the market in such a condition as will keep up its standard of excellence, and give a name to the products of the colony. Most of our readers will recollect that at one time Port Cooper cheese held a very high position in the market. It was sufficient at that time to say to a buyer, this is Port Cooper cheese, to at once get a good price for it. But, unfortunately, this very good character was ultimately the ruin of the trade, as careless dairy farmers traded upon the reputation obtained for the cheese, and sent into the market a badly got up and inferior article. The result of this was, that in a few years the name of Port Cooper cheese stank in the nostrils of buyers, and this too when before it commanded the highest prices. Towards this undesirable result our grain sent home seems to be also tending, as the very last market report on New Zealand grain contains the following sentence : “ The later arrivals from New Zealand “ are better than the previous ones, “ many of which have been very in- “ ferior, both in quality and condi- “ tion.” If the plan proposed by Mr Nathan were carried out, this would be obviated. The various qualities of wheat, as certified by the brand affixed by the inspector, would have a recognised standard in the market, and the indiscriminate classing of all kinds under the one title of New Zealand wheat, which has had such a bad effect, would no longer continue. A small charge per bushel on the grain examined would cover all the expenses of the department, and the farmer and merchant would be repaid far above this by the increased price they would obtain for their grain when bearing the recognised brand. Again, it would enable sales of shipments to be made afloat and to arrive, because all it would be necessary for a shipper to do would be to advise the shipment of so many bags of wheat bearing a certain mark affixed by the inspector, and the London firm would at once know the quality and be able to place the shipment at a good price without waiting until arrival of cargo to show samples,* of course subject to any deduction which might be found necessary for damage on the voyage from salt water. The farmer on this side, too, having had his grain examined, and holding a certificate of quality, would be able to obtain advances in a similar way to a merchant on bond warrants, because the quality having been fixed, the banks or mer chant making the advance could calculate to almost a certainty

how much it would realise in the home market. Transactions could also take place between buyer and seller in neighbouring provinces by telegram, without the expense of a middle man, and without the delay of waiting for the cargo. As we have said, no details have been laid down ; but the general pruciple seems to he one which commends itself to anyone who thinks over the matter, and therefore we hope that, before next session of the General Assembly some practical steps will be taken to obtain legislation upon a matter which is of vital importance to the whole colony, and to this province as a large grain producing country in particular.