TRADE WITH SOUTH AFRICA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 14, 17 January 1902, Page 2

TRADE WITH SOUTH AFRICA.

THE PREMIER INTERVIEWED. J AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT. PER PBEBS ASSOCIATION. Wellington, January 16. A deputation which represented the largest dairy produce exporters in the North Island waifcad on the Premier to day on the all-important subject of the intentions of the Government m assisting the exploitation of outside markets. It was pointed out by the ; deputation that owing to the Australian market being now closed exporters looked to the Oape for an outlet. They were therefore anxious to know ; whether the Government was making any arrangements for the conveyance of dairy produce to South Africa, as they believed there was a splendid opening in that country. They believed the loss of the Australian trade would be more than made up if they got a regular and satisfactory service, the delivery of cargoes being made with a fair degree of certainty aa to time. Shipping via Sydney and Melbourne would mean a handicap on produce of to |d per lb. The Premier's reply was important. He said that in the course of a day or two an advertisement for steamers would be published, and he hoped within a month to have secured a direct steam' service between New Zealand and the Cape. The Government wished to embrace We<st Australia en ravU, as notwithstanding the tariff thei wag market in that State for New Zealand produce. The Government could not devote the money voted by Parliament towards giving subsidies to shippers, as had been suggested, because the money h#d been voted for the rsi tablishment of a direct service and not for payment of bonuses' to produce exi porters. If a bonus were given to shippers of butter and cheese, other i exporters would also demand consideration. The Government had received t i report from Mr J. G. Gow, New Zealand Trade Commissioner, who bore out what the deputation had said about the , possibilities of the South Afrioan , market. Mr Gow was, however, not I in favour of the New Zsaland Govern-. ) ment erecting cold stores at the Gap?.