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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5411, 31 July 1878, Page 2

The opening up a trade direct with China for the wools of Australia and New Zealand has from time to time been shadowed forth as a moat desirable event likely to be eventually consummated. Correspondence, it will bo remembered, T has taken place between Mr. Monkton Synuot, the Melbourne wool-broker and the Wellington Chamber of Commerce on the subject, which led to considerable discussion, and elicited from the Chamber a subscription in aid of the object in view. It is satisfactory to find that the matter is to be brought under the notice of Parliament this session, Mr. Pox having last night given notice of his intention to ask the Government to say whether they do not deem it advisable to invite to New Zealand the Japanese Commissioners who are now in Australia with a view to opening up a trade In wool between the two countries, and to afford them facilities for such a visit. In connection with this we may say a private letter has been received by a gentleman in Wellington, mentioning that Mr. Monkton Synnot, who is still endeavoring to open up a trade between Australia and Japan, has especially commended the New Zealand wools to the attention of the Commissioners, its length of staple rendering it particularly valuable. If China and Japan can be induced to take the wool of these colonies and manufacture it into clothing suitable for their millions of inhabitants, for which purpose it is stated to be practicaly well adapted, the people at large, although prone be suspicious of innovations, are too intelligent not to be convinced ultimately of the advantages they themselves would derive from encouraging such manufactures, and then the magnitude and importance of the trade to both producer and consumer can hardly be overestimated. Mr. Fox certainly deserves the thanks of the colony fo£ having brought the matter under the notice of tbe Government. Ministers will, we think, be supported by all parties in taking steps to induce the distinguished foreigners comprising the Japanese Commission to pay a visit to New Zealand. Apart from the actual object of such a visit—to promote a trade- between the countries, a few weeks spent in New Zealand could hardly fail to have an effect in making more widely known the natural advantages of the colony, its fine climate, and its vast resources of all kinds. The Commissioners are spoken of as men of culture and good standing in society in their own country, and such men could hardly fail to be favorably impressed generally with the country, and this in itself would probably be productive of much good. But if the result should be the opening of the Japanese and the Chinese markets to the staple product of the colony, it will have been a most auspicious day on which the Commissioners agreed to accept an invitation to New Zealand.