AUSTRALIAN TRADE WITH AMERICA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5428, 20 August 1878, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN TRADE WITH AMERICA.

(From the Queenslander, August 3.) Twelve months since we were speculating as to what sort of appearance would be made at our national exhibition by articles then expected from the United States and Canada. That event is matter of history. Since then vessels with oargees of goods from both those countries have been in our ports in numbers far greater than ever before ; and there have been numerous visitors, some for purposes of education and instruction, to see this country, but the larger number upon business'intent. Australia is not yet sufficiently covered by ago records or mystery to bring mere curiosityhunters to her shores ; and we are too far distant for the ordinary tourist. But the prospect of business brings the business man here, as eager aud intent upon weighing the chances and prospects, and making sales, as in the greater marts of the older civilization. We welcome these visitors ; there is much to be learnt from them. They are a pushing, oocasioually boisterous, and always lively element of society, and decidedly useful in their way. To use a commercial phrase, the “ lines of goods" of American products aud manufacture that find outlets in Australia are not numerous. They are nearly all of the kinds useful. Implements and.tools, light buggies and waggons, sewing machines, preserved fruits aud fish, and a few etceteras, fill the lint. Notwithstanding the increase of direct

trade, the novelties sent from America—the United States and Canada—are not numerous. The last exhibition of the National Association brought before Queenslanders specimens of nearly everything that has become more common since. The question, then, in connection -with them ia, which is of most consequence to us ; to have thi* trade in American goods direct with the manufacturers or with England ? Looking at the situation as Queenslanders, we should say that, were the Americans as one

in the case, and fully alive to its merits and the extent to which trade could be carried, they would very quickly settle the question. American goods of various kinds, as our visitors can see, are in common use, are actual necessaries, in this country. They must be supplied to the customers who require them and find them most suitable for their purpose. This being the case, the common law of trade, of supply and demand, would say these goods should come by the most direct route ; and so they would, were the conditions equal. But this is not the case by any means, and, notwithstanding the push and undeniable business capacity of the representative business men who have been and are here from America, they have a tough row to hoe before they can place their goods direct from the manufacturers upon equal terras with the same goods via England, and through English houses. This commercial paradox is not difficult to resolve into plain figures. Colonial trade with the mother country is

an exchange trade. In the British Islands there ate ever open, markets for the products of Australia. The wool and tallow, preserved meats, bone?, hides, hoof?, and horns, find ready sale there ; and, as a natural consequence, the gold, tin, copper, and other Australian metals go where the other products go. With the exception of tin, upon which the United States levy no duty, they will have none of our products upon what we consider equitable terms. In practice, it is found impracticable to land Australian wool in America at a profit; the tariff is practically prohibitory in the case of wool; and wool and its concomitants being the staples of Australian exchange, trade will flow towards the markets open for these articles. For the goods the Americans send us—for their machinery, tools, and other articles—they require cash, and that can only be sent from this country at a disadvantage. It is not necessary to follow the matter further in that direction. Its working is perfectly well understood, and American statesmen and manufacturers who desire to open up direct trade with this country will, as a preliminary step, have to break down the protection barriers which do so much to shut them out of trade with free-trade countries. They must get the prohibitory tariff off our wools, and then they can be upon equal business terms with other business nations who supply Australia. There is another matter also which affects trade with this country, and that is the rates of freight. This is an item of special importance to the Californians, who are making very plucky advance 3 for Australian trade, aud are placing very creditable goods on this market. But some better arrangements for freight will have to be made. The charges at present are exorbitant, and more than sufficient to kill offall other advantages that may exist. Many cases have come under our notice wherein the rates of freight prevented the sending of orders to America. There are at present several gentlemen connected with the Californian trade in the colonies—notably Mr. Davis, of the overland railways ; Mr. J. W. Butcher, representing several Californian mercantile firms ; Mr. Webster, also from California. These gentlemen could, with every propriety, represent the position of, trade as it is between the countries concerned—first to have the rates of freight reduced, and next to agitate for such amendment of the tariff as shall allow of exchange trade between Australia and America.