TRADE WITH THE EAST.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8122, 29 May 1906, Page 4

TRADE WITH THE EAST.

THE PREMIER'S PROPOSAL. A COMMERCIAL MAN'S OPINION. Apropos-of Mr Seddon's visit to the Japanese Consul-General in Sydney, with a view to opening up direct trade communication with the East, the following letter from Mr 0. Archer to the president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce will be read with interest : Dear Sir, —As I have but lately returned from the Par East after a two years' residence there, I would like to bring to your Chamber's notice the vast market that is open to New Zealand products, knowing Singapore and the Malay Peninsula as far north as P- n i:i!», where, as well as in Hongkong, China, and Japan, all supplies arc drawn from the English and Continon tal markets, though Canada is trading to China and Australia to Singapore and Japan in a small way. However, owing to the peace between Russia and Japan, and the fact that Singapore has been made the naval base for the Far East, an immense market is open for the following products, which New Zealand is in a position to supply on perhaps better terms than any country m t'lu world.

Agricultural Products. —Oats for feed purposes, bright oaten chaff, trussed hay and bran have a large d- e mand, at high rates, the market being chiefly supplied by New Zealand oats bought in Sydney. Potatoes and onions are always very dear and very inferior, and are both largely used by all fie various races, including Chinese, Tamils, Cingalese, Japanese Selks, and Mohamedans, • the retail price being never under twenty cents a cati, which is equal to about £37 a ton. Apples of bolli cooking and dessert varieties arc always in demand, at high prices. Poultry.—Eggs, when procurable at under 9d a dozen, should leave a large profit, as the local supply is never sufficient, besides bein.s very siuill and often of a very doubtful quality; while poultry of all sorts, in small quantities, would fetch large prices; but only the Europeans and rich Chinese Towkays could be depended upon as regular customers; As there are large ice factories at all the owns of importance, cool storage could be obtained for all perishable freights at reasonable rates.

Bacon, hams, and l.ird are very expensive, hard to get, una generally of inferior quality, bat if available at reasonable prices there is an immense demand, pork in any form being the

staple food of the Chinese working classes.

Preserved meats, Icngues, rabbits hares, roast and boiled mutton, and beef—in fact, tinned meats and fishform by far the usual fare of lhe European population; while such nroducts as jam, pickles, biscuits, flour, and oatmeal have only the English market to compete against, and should easily hold the market when it is considered that a large portion of the raw materials is sent out from New Zealand in the first instance.

Frozen Meat.—The fresh meat sup. ply of the East is very uncertain and very inferior; in fact, good luvf .in 1 mutton are unknown, although (iucvu - land has started sending over frozen beef, which, though better than goats' flesh, is a very poor sample ; and now that Singapore is a naval base, the army and navy contracts for fresh meat will be as large, if not larger, than Gibraltar, while the shipping to the East will call there both outward and homeward bound, and would be only too glad to replenish their meat supply in lieu of carrying it twice round the world. This is a large item, when Singapore ranks about third or fourth in importance and tonnage of the ports of the world. Before long Japan will bo in the market for wool, flax, hides, «nd tallow; in fact, already quite a large trade is being done in the finer woods. Back freight of rice, tea, tapioca, rattans, coffee, gambia, spices, and fruits, and Eastern curios can be secured, while full loads of jute goods and cornsacks could be secured for the wool and grain season at Calcutta. I have written direct to you, as Victoria has already appointed an agent at a largo salary to represent the State in the East, but with the exception of wines New Zealand need not fear competition if she loses no time in getting on the market.