The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, MARCH 10th, 1924. AS OTHERS SEE US.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) MONDAY, MARCH 10th, 1924. AS OTHERS SEE US.

AVjjrr.E the commercial and economic outlook in New Zealand is encouraging, according to a report compiled in July last by Mr M. KlmsJio, H.M. Trade Commissioner in the Dominion, it is .stil 1 too early to speak confidently of t'.io future prospects, since some of the effects of post-war inflation have not vet been fully felt. The wool season of 1922-23 has been notable for the wonderful recovery that lias been made from the acute depression that prevailed during the previous two seasons. Demand has lieen keen and the outlook i'ol the future is promising, since old stocks of wool have been largely absorbed and production is at present considerably below consumption. An interesting feature of the season has been the increase in the quantity of wool disposed of at the New Zealand sales, which, during the twelve months ended June 30 last, accounted fur 457,547 hales, or about 80 per cent of the total production of New Zealand. The estimated wool clip of last season is given as about 151,538,1081 b. for the 1921-22 season. The very rapid increase in production of butter that was so apparent during 1921 lias been continued, and up to July last there was no indication that the rate of increase was diminishing. Now that the price of wool has recovered and butter prices nave broken, it does not seem probable

tlir.t further extensive areas will he developed for dairy farming until prices improve and production costs are redutod. A temporary check in the increase of the area, however, does not nci essarilv involve a diminution of the

rate of increase of dairy products, and a great deal of attention is just now being paid to the question of increasing the average yield of butter fat per cow. Conditions in the meat industry have 1 ecu fairly satisfactory throughout the past season as far a.s mutton and lamb are concerned, exports of the latter having been larger in volume than was anticipated, and prices being well maintained. The total trade of New Zenlard for the first six months of 1923 wa.r valued at £52.273.005, of which £21.190,732 represented the value of imports, as compared with £35.012,501. the value of goods imported during Idi--* whole of 1922. An examination of tli i returns reveals that the Dominion

■j now buying on approximately the same scale a,s in 1914, and that nearly as large a proportion of the imports comes from the United Kingdom as in the years immediately before the war. It is true that there is still a considerid o quantity of goods obtained from fun ign countries that could he supplied by the United Kingdom, hut the greater part consists of lines in which foreign manufacturers have well-established connections or goods of special design which suit the tastes and habits of New Zealand better than the standard products of the United Kingdom. This Dade can he obtained only by mannfactmers paying much closer attention to the market, adapting their designs to suit local re<iuiremcnts and organising their selling methods in order to meet he'r igu competition oil equal terms. All Klmslie points out that the preI'oienco given to British products by the Customs tariffs is so considerable.

and the desire to puicltaso all requireliu nts within the Empire so genuine ami strong, that if British firms will unl\ take the trouble to establish personal touch with the market, and show willingness to give tlm service that is y-keil, foreign goods can fie practically excluded.