NEW ZEALAND'S CHANGE.

Shannon News, 8 December 1925, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND'S CHANGE.

TRADE IN THE EAST, Mr E, F% Crojwther. of Wellington, forwards the .following interesting note to the Chronicle:—• There is a great opportunity for New Zealand trade in the marts of the changing East. Have we a statesman with vision enough to seize the chance of cotmmeroial fortune, and have we in our merchant princes the spirit of the great adventures of the Elizalbethian age, who ventured abroad and founded an Empire? To-day, New Zealand is content with only one market for its productions. If any calamity were to overtake Great Britain this cojuintry would . fall into / economiic disaster. It is reasonable prudence to seek a second string to Qur how. The ancient East, the cradle of forgotten civilisations, invites economic exploration. It has awakened to Western ideas and modern methods, A new generation is arising with new wants, fresh appetites, and increasing desire for the higher standard of living achieved in the Western world. At present this class forms only a small percentage of the vast mass of China's four hundred millions, tout it is a steadily growing fraction and will rapidly leaven the whole, mass. pie absorption toy these people of Western ideas and haibits is creating among them a taste and a demand for Western luxuries and modern productions. The adoption ,qf a modern form of' civilisation has hecessittated richer and more nourishing' foods than those commonly used. There is now a steadily increasing demand for wheat-flour; Avhite bread and wheaten products are gradually replacing rice as a staple article of diet. There is also a distinct demand for meat (beef and mutton) and a great market for butter and cheese. Canned fruits are appreciated as well as preserves and jams. Most of these articles are being imported from England or the United C + Q-fpC Australia some years ago attempted to secure this growing market but,, failed to retain it,_ owing to lack of business probity on the part of her manufacturers, who failed to realise the Chinese love qf honest dealing. Tliroiigh this Australia lost for ever the confidence of the Chinese merchants. . , * Another immediate need of China s that Nev/ Zealand can and should supply is wool. We grow most of the second-grade wool that China is now buying- The demand for Avoollen fabrics is' rapidly growing among the northern coastal Chinese, and their shrewd business men and merchants are already considering matters very seriously. They, realise that they are paving far too much for NeAV Zealand wool, and unless we get quickly to work and also seriously think over this matter we are going to lose the present market for some oif our wool output, and the larger market that the future Chinese trade will create. At present New Zealand wool has to travel 13,000 miles io Great ■'Britain, and after, paying warehousing, brokerage, and transhipping charges, has to travel another 10,000 miles east to China. This is not good business. We must plan a way .toy which our wool can be exported direct from here to Chinese ports and reduce the cost oi transport, as well as facilitate direct trade. Avith China's merchants by extending them every courtesy and consideration when *hey visit our ports to ■do business instead Of treating them as coolies and insignificant foreign.persons. We. must rearrange our mental outlook towards these merchant envoys, treat them as they treat, us, Avith the ultmost courtesy and consideration and not as "dogs," "dagoes," or f "chinks." Further, our hanh's ought <to realise the position and arrange exchange on as favourable terms as now exist . between Shanghai and Lfoindon, or Sydney and Hong King. ; ' China is considering carefully how to utilise her available millions of suitable acres for growing wool, instead of buying ours: And New Zealand is asleep, much too apathetic or too ignorant to Avake up to opportunities ere it is too late. Have avc men to-day with "vision" or Avill fuI ture generations revile us for dense j apathetic inertia?