NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 100, 7 June 1900, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE.

INTERVIEW WITH MR. JOHN HOLMES. Few questions are of greater importance to the well-being of our colony than the development of its natural resources, and the knowledge of what is being done in this direction, together with expert information as to the best means for attaining the end in view, is always of value. This refers in particular to a province like that of Taranaki, where there are already splendid prospects of the dairy export becoming greatly increased in quantity and value. There are few men in the colony who are so well acquainted with the conditions under which this success is possible than Mr. John Holmes, of Messrs. John Holmes and Co., wool, grain, hemp, and dairy produce exporters, Wellington, who is at present on a biief business visit to New Flymouth, in the interests of Messrs. Dempster, Peterson and Co., butter and cheese merchants, of Glasgow,; which well-established firm he represents in New Zealand. Yesterday we had the pleasure of interviewing this gentleman, the results of which we publish for the information of our readers. NEW ZEALAND TBADE COMMISSIONER. It will be remembered that Mr. Holmes was some time since appointed by the Government as New Zealand Trade Commissioner, to visit South Africa, the United Kingdom, America, i Canada, and British Columbia in the interests of New Zealand exports, a commission to which Mr. Holmes devoted some sixteen months, which proved none too long for his mission, VISIT TO COTTONOPOLIS.

In reply to several questions put by as to Mr. Holmes, he explained that among the many interesting functions attended by him was the large luncheon party given to him by the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Alderman Gibson, at which he met tha leading I financial, shipping, insurance, and commercial men of that city. In response I to an invitation by the Lord Mayor, Mr. Holmes briefly reviewed the history of the colony, pointing out its rapid development as evidenced by the remarkable increase in the volume of its export trade. In this connection the enormous strides made by the dairy industry came in for special mention. The next speaker was Mr. Bythell, Chairman of the Manchester Ship Canal Company, who made some very kindly references to the visit of their guest to Lancashire, and in an admirable speech suggested, inter alia, the advisableness of the New Zealand Government subsidising a line of steamers that might be established between the colonies and Manchester vie the Ship Canal. Mr. Holmes, in reply, said that while recognising the great advantages of the proposed closer trade relations as suggested by Mr. Bythell, it was necessary to remind his audience of something that gentleman had overlooked, i that the greater good must fall to the greatest mmber, Manchester, together with the rest of Lancashire, numbered some 8,000,000 souls, as against New Zealand's 750,000, and the former would be the beneficiaries of direct trade with New Zealand rather than tbe latter. Obviously, therefore, any expenditure on the lines indicated by Mr. Bythell must be first initiated by the Manchester folk. When they aiiy dtfinite proposal for the New Zealand Government to consider, there would be no lack of the fullest and most earnest consideration. Every] member of the present Ministry was desirous of extending trade with Lancashire, and there was one member of i the Cabinet in particular who would be always anxious for this. Referring to Mi 1 Seddon, he said he felt sure the' large audience he saw before him would join with him in saying that the people of New Zaaland exhibited their wisdom when they selected a Lancashire man as Prime Minister of the colony. Mr. Holmes tiok advantage of this occasion to point out the high favour in which Now Zealand butter was held by London dealers, some of whom supplied it to eis mauy as 10,000 custom .rs, and piefiirtd its best bands to those oi Daiiish or any o her tnaiiufactuit'. Special a tuntion \v;is drawn to tin fact that tho finest article was tha product el in the Tarauaki distiicg and "hipped from New Plymouth, AT EDINBURGH. Mr. Holmes alto visited E iinburgb, wheie he was graciously received by

'the Lord Provost,{Mitchell Thomsor, who invited bim to a public 'n ; he n (given bj th, (J,. t ~.aou to the oliuiij i 'viie Austrian man-o'-war . tor-, which had just arrived at Leith. He lhai'o touk the opportunity of making special reference to the imports and exports of the colony, its sound financial position, and its claims Jg the best place for the investment of British capital. IN IRELAND. Passing over to Ireland Mr. Holmes visited Belfast, Dublin, and Cork. The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Sir James Henderson, proprietor of the Belfast News Letter, devoted several special articles to Mr. Holmes and his mission, in which the growing importance of New Zealand as a field for commercial and agricultural and pastoral enterprises were enlarged upon. A GREAT CO-OPERATIVE ENTERPRISE. Before leaving England, Mr. Holmes was invited to visit, with the AgentGeneral, the Hon. William Fember Reeves, the large manufacturing works at Warrington, belonging to Messrs. Richmond and Co., gas stove makers, who had recently adopted the very excellent co-operation principle of sharing their profits with their employees, and the invitation had been to the inaugural distribution under this system. Mr. Holmes describes the scene of the hundreds and hundreds of employees, I all dressed in holiday attire, coming forward to receive their dividends, as a very fine sight—as indeed it must have been. The Chairman of the London Gas Company, Mr. George Sivesey, presided at this function. Mr. Reeves | was to have been one of the speakers, ! but was unavoidably detained at the last moment, and Mr, Holmes was called upon to do double duty, and ! speak on Mr. Reeves's behalf as well as ' his own.

AN OLD-ESTABLISHED KIRM, One of the many large manufacturing concerns visited by Mr. Holmes was that of Messrs. D. and W, Gibb, Ltd., of London, which was established in 1712. This firm are very large manufacturers of sheep dip, and had expressed the wish to get in touch with this colony. They have since established their business both here and in Australia.

OVER THE HERRING FOND, i After leaving England, Mr. Holmes crossed the Atlantic and visited America. One of his first cal s was upon Mayor Yan Wyck, of New York, with whom he had a pleasant and characteristic interview, in which the American interest in trade was soon evidenced. The city of Boston was also visited, and its popular Mayor, Mr. Josiah Quincey, gave Mr, Holmes a cordial welcome. Next came a visit to the capital city, Washington, where, after a preliminary call upon Mr, Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture, who expressed great interest in learning about New Zealand, Mr. Holmes had the honour of an interview with President McKinley, The very friendly way in which the President received our colony's Trade Commissioner delighted t.he latter, as did also the keen interest displayed in his mission. President' McKinley remarked that the Government of New Zealand were to be congratulated upon the enterprise they had shown in sending a commissioner abroad to gather and disseminate such useful information, which could not fail to be of permanent benefit to the colony, Eegarding this as a favourable opportunity, Mr. Holmes asked President McKinley to accept as souvenirs of the interview some special samples of polished kauri gum and native-dressed flax, together with an early history of the Maoris by Major Gudgeon. These were accepted by the President with evident pleasure. 1 THROUGH CANADA, Continuing his travels, Mr. Holmes journeyed to Montreal. Here he waited on the Board of Trade, and went fully into matters connected with the trade relations of the Dominion and our colony. The Board of Trade at Victoria, 8.C., was also waited on for the same purpose. It was from this port that the start was made for the return journey. Mr. Holmes referred in glowing terms to the great enterprise displayed by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, and made special mention of the kindness shown to him by the vice-president of that Corporation, Mr. Shannesy. Accordiog to Mr. Bolmes, tha Canadians have all the vivacity of the French, the enterprise of the Americans, and the solidity of the E oglish. They kno r? how to advertise their country, and New Zealand would be far better known and more {frequently visited were our people to advertise its attractions in the same enterprising way that our Canadian cousins do. Mr. Holmes emphasised this with the declaration that no ' country in the world has such scenic | beauties as are to be found in New Zealand.

A COMMERCIAL REPRESENTATIVE WANTED. Mr. Holmes bears strong testimony to the active and able manner in which the interests of New Zealand are attended to in London by our AgentGeneral, the Hon. William Pember Reeves, and his efficient staff. Mr. Reeves has made his office in Victoriastreet a real live representation, where thousands of people call to obtain all sorts of information and which is always most readily and courteously given. Mr. Holmes, however, suggests that in the interests of the colony it is advisable that a commercial representative, with full knowledge of the requirements of our import and export trade, should be appointed. Such an agent could visit the large manufacturing centres of Britain, and also make occasional trips to Canada and Danmark, with a view to ascertaining what was done in these countries in order to capture the trades of the large manufacturing centres. He referred to the praiseworthy work now being made by iLr. Cameron, our Produce Commissioner in England, in examining the | various shipments of New Zealand produce as they arrive in London, Juties which keep him fully employed, 'iut c'o. not touch the ground Mr. Holmes ti.ii ks should be covered by a ommercial representative. NEW ZEALAND HEMP, During tl.e course of the interview Holmes referred to the enormous coii.-umii g power of America and (Jauada for New Zealand hemp, for binder twiee { a purpose {or whioh its is

'pi e-eminently suited. He was assured' by the largest cordage manufacturers that if the Government adopted a compulsory grading system upon which importers could absolutely depend, these would be large buyers of that product. " When you take the same trouble with your hemp that you do with your dairy produce," said one of these merchants, " you may expect to have a like demand for it, but not before."

After enjoying a pleasant chat with Mr. Holmes on less formal lines, the interview concluded with our thanking him for the interesting information he had so pleasantly and lucidly given.