A SEASONABLE INTERVIEW.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7707, 9 January 1905, Page 2

A SEASONABLE INTERVIEW.

The Hon. C. H. Mills on Trade Prospects.

Taking advantage of the presenco in New Plymouth of the Hon. C. H. Mills, Commissioner of Trade ami Customs, a representative of the Daily News sought some information as to the Minister's views of the prospects of trade during tho coming year. The interview proved most interesting, us the following resume will show. It will be

pleasant to settlers and business people to know that the lion, gen- J entertains most optimistic ideas of the future of the colony. Jn 'reply to the leading question, "What aro your views of the commercial prospects for 11)05?" Mr Mills said : j "in my opinion the prospects of the colony for the coming year are | such us nave never appeared brighter, and there is everything to justify that opinion. The revenue derived Ifrom the Customs is always a fair 'indication of the true position of 'any country, and during the past nine months of the present linunciul year we have very nearly reached the amount estimated by the Colonial Treasurer in his last financial tatement. During the next three months—generally these give the best returns—there can be little doubt but that we shall exceed the estimate by a reasonable umount. 'the returns of the last quarter have been most satisfactory and when we realise thul the recent rise in wool must mean an amount equal to a million und a half in excess of what was realised lust year, it must convince even the most sceptical person of the continuing tt nd growing prosperity of the colony, especially when wc remember that that vust amount of money is spread abroad—not only the large squuHers, but even the smallest settlers receive s share. Then the high price attained from he frozen meat industry is unparalleled in the history of the colony. It is no unusual thing to heur f people obtaining from 15s to 27s 6d each for wethers—a price qual to that obtainable for three r four sheep a few years ago. It is a mistaken opinion with some people to think .that because there is not quite so lurge a number of sheep in this colony now that we must be going backwards. It is not so, When we realise that the number of cattle has increased threefold during tho past few years, he difference in the number of sheep is easily accounted for. In many cases the small settler has parted .with his sheep to obtain milking cows, and if we take the ordinaryaverage of live sheep to every head of cattle now kept it means with all our growing export of frozen mutton an equivalent to an increased number in tho colony.

"Thou take the butter industry, and see what rapid strides this great industry is making throughout the colony ; while the price realised in the Home market is a very satisfactory one." "Will the! price continue ?"• was queried. "Yes," said the Minister, " I think the price will remain. The improved machinery now to be obtained by the small settler has transformed his life from that of drudgery to a really pleasing one, which generally occurs when a man can see his balance at the end of the year on the right side of the ledger." "What of Government aid in the mutter 1" asked the pressman. "Some people say that the Government have not shown sufficient interest in the industry, but when we remember that ten jcars agio the Agricultural Department was maintained with an expenditure of some £23,000, ami now it takes over £IOO,OOO per annum to carry on the good work in all its branches, any sensible person must acknowledge that the Government are not behind hand in assisting to build up this class of business. And no better proof is required than mention of the grand system of grading dairy produce under which a merchant can! ship his many hundred boxes of butter on board a steamer and draw against the shipment without any fear ns to a rebate being required; when the account sales came 'to hand.

"Let us next look nt tho flax (industry. Here we find the same indication of good returns to be obtained. As much as £3l per ton is the price for first-class material, and there is every appearance of this price being maintained, as from London cables wc gather that tho supply of flbro from the Philii>pines is not likely to materially influence the market.

"The great safety valve of the colony is that wo have so many different industries which never can be influenced in the same way ut any one period ; for if wool goes down we generally lind that flax will rise, and vice versa." Sumaning up his views, Mr Mills saidT""ln fact, I consider that at no period in the history of tho colony should the financial credit of New Zealand stand as high as it iStunds to-day."-

Even at tho risk of being wearisome, one had to ask the threadWorn question; : "What do you think of the exhibition f" To this came the answer, delivered in all sincerity: "1 came here yesterday, and was welcomed most heartily by the Major and the Chairman of the; committee, and enjoyed my visit thoroughly, and urn only sorry I cannot remain longer. Taking the exhibition us a whole it is much more extensive and far superior to what I anticipated. The variety of the displays quite astonished me, as I have no doubt is the case with other visitors, who could only have expected a local exhibition. We were agreeably surprised to see what had been donu by the enterprising and energetic committee. I believe the holding of exhibitions of this kind is doing a great deal of good throughout tho colony, as settlers who are unable to travel fur are enabled to acquire much information from the object lessons they receive at them. The exhibits prove to us how little one half the |>eople know of the manner in which the other half get u living. lam quite satisfied tho exhibition must do a lot of good throughout the district, and -it will give great encouragement to other places to follow in the footsteps of those who have done so well." Commenting on the presence of the Maoris at the carnival, Mr Mills said he was very pleased to see they had joined with tho Ktiro|>vans, assisting 'them to make it a success. "When we consider to-day that some years ago a number of Taranaßi residents hud to leave their homes and seek safety in Nelson, we then realise what a.beneficial elTect civilisation has had, uikl how well the two nations are being welded together."