AUSTRALIAN TRADE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8892, 12 August 1907, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN TRADE.

Press Association.—Copyright. J London. August 10. j The Board of Trade issued a report ' based on the material collected on behalf of J the Advisory Committee by Mr R. J. Jeffray, Imperial Trado Commissioner to Aus- 1 tralia, who visited the Commonwealth last year, and who completed his report in •■ January last. The Board of Trade's report declares that the statistics reveal a sub- 1 stanMnUy comparative progress of the. . foreign countries as contributors to Aus- . tralian imports, but the absence of reliable < figures concerning thecountries of origin, to a certain extent, makes any comparison i misleading. There is evidence, however, i which suggests that the gain to foreign countries is greater in appearance than in reality. There is nothing to suggest that ■ Britain's position is very seriously menacecL in the great staple lines of cotton, iron anir steel goods. The report goes on to I state regarding the woollens rivalry, that British manufacturers had experienced a rise in Australia. Mr Jeffray considers : that this competition is certain to increase j rapidly, and that the same may be expected in regard to boots, shoes, hats and mining machinery. Tho report coneludes by stating that the British trades on tho whole are deliberately chosen and restrict themselves to n, small number of the great main lines of production, leaving the smaller cheap lines . largely to foreigners. The freights should be dealt ' with with a view of placing the British ; and foreign importers to Australia on : greater equality.