TRADE BETWEEN INDIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 82, 27 December 1884, Page 3

TRADE BETWEEN INDIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

Wellington, Dec. 22. It will be remembered that during the session the Premier stated that Government were making inquiries as to whether India would be a good field for the introduction of frozen mutton from New Zealand. As I informed you a few days ago, the Government have received a most important and interesting memorandum from the Government of Bombay in reply to those inquiries. It would appear that the success of the importation of frozen meat and woollen fabrics to India can only be decided by experiment. The sale of the former would be chiefly confined to Europeans and those of the richer class. As a rule, the meat supplied in the market is poor compared to Australian, and New Zealand meat cannot be obtained by the larger consumers in India. Sir James Fergusson says that many Europeans would pay a somewhat higher price for a really good article, say 6d to 7d per lb, instead of 3d to 4d.< This price could be procured in Bombay from the Ice Manufacturing Company, and arrangements could be made for storing meat as in London. There are no towns in the Bombay presidency with so larue a European population as would make it worth while to fcend the frozen meat there except Poona. The distance from Bombay to Poona is 118 miles, and the rates offered by the Kailway Company are £14 10s per ton to Poona. This would be thirdclass goods rate, but the native meat is somewhat cheaper in Poona than in Bombay. The commissiarat, who are large consumers, would certainly not buy meat at 4d or 5d when they can produce or buy it at from 2d to 3d. A large portion of their supply comes from Government farms. The New Zealand woollen goods seem to be quite unknown in India, but Sir James Fergusson, who, it will be remembered, was formerly Governor of New Zealand, praises them highly. Sir James recommended an experimental shipment, and says that there could be no better opportunity for a reliable test than that which would be given by the coming International Exhibition, to be held in December, 1886.

Nelson and Canterbury are co-operating to get the East and West Coast Railway made.