Commercial Conference.

Manawatu Herald, 8 February 1902, Page 2

Commercial Conference.

At the opening of the Conference of Chambers of Commerce, Mr D. J. Nathan (Wellington) presided, and in his opening address said the posir tion of mercantile and industrial life was far from justifying the pessimism that had characterised the utterances of public jmen and writings in the papers. No doubt wool was as low in price as the world had ever known, but signs of improvement were noticer able. Comparing the position of the sheep farmer in 1881 (before the frozen meat .industry revolutionised the condition of the colony) with that at the present time, it was found • that he drew an average last year of 10s per sheep as against Ss in ,1901. The significance of the drop of £l,500,000 in our exports was greatly discounted by the fact that the total . exports lor years have shown abnormal increases. In any case a fall of £1.500,000 was not likely to ruin this colony. Frozen meat has been higher in value but few could grumble at the present prices, and moreover there are signs of improvement. Tallow, flax and butter are high, while the prospects of wheat and oats hardly justify, any special feeling of despondency. Gold, timber and gum products more than maintain their position and the coal output is increasing, while there are other industries, pork export foe instance, awaiting development.. The Chairman strongly advocated pie- . farential treatment of British-made _ goods and urged the opening up of the country by means of roads, ■ bridges, and railways, and particularly the completion of the Trunk lines.