Taranaki Herald. (DAILY EVENING.) FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1911. TRADE WITH AMERICA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 143473, 21 April 1911, Page 2

Taranaki Herald. (DAILY EVENING.) FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1911. TRADE WITH AMERICA.

The United States Consul-Gen-era} in Australia, Mr. H. G. Baker, who is visiting New Zealand, in the course of a conversation with a Wellington newspaper man, remarked that there is a good opening for New Zealand trade in America. Particularly he mentioned the possibility of a growth in the American demand for New Zealand meat, mutton especially. The American production of meat is apparently failing to keep pace with the growing consumption, and from being a meat exporting country the United States will soon have to import supplies to meet the wants of its own people. That, according to Mr. Baker, is why the Beef Trust, as it is called, but which is not a trust in the legal acceptation of the term, has turned its attention to Australia, and in his opinion it would be to the advantage of New Zealand producers if the Trust came on to the Dominion, because it would create a new demand and a new market for our product. There, might be some difficulty in arranging for imports of New Zealand meat into America unless the big packing companies had some 1 representative here and made special arrangements for buying from the producers, but Mr. Baker says that the companies, if they expect to do business, would not want to do anything to the disadvantage of New Zealand. He thinks that if the American buyers came here prices would go up, and while local consumers might not like it the country as a whole would beqj/irfit. Naturally Mr. Baker has to make out the best case for bis country, but sufficient is known of American trading methods to cause New Zealand producers to be very careful in the matter of making any contracts which may place them in the power of an American trust, even though it is not legally a trust, but only an aggregation of meat companies. The trust is looking for the cheapest possible supplies of meat and is certain to drive a bard bargain. The very fact, however, that the people of the United States are compelled to look abroad for supplies, instead of having a large exportable surplus, should cause the New Zealand producer to “sit tight,” secure in the knowledge that he has a product which the world wants and must have. He has a market in England which has served him well for thirty years, and where he lias achieved an excellent reputation. It will be for him to consider whether it will pay in the long run to divert a portion of his produce from that market in order to secure a possibly only temporary footing in tlie United States, where he will have to compete with South American

producers on the keenest of terms. The same remarks apply to the trade in butter, which Mr, Baker says may find a profitable market in the country which he represents, as also may potatoes — which we cannot now grow in sufficient quantities for our own consumption—onions, eggs, fruit, etc. In return the United States manufacturers will expect New Zealand to buy their wares, such as agricultural machinery, motorcars, tools, etc. He also points to the American tourist traffic as likely to be of immense benefit to New Zealand, to all of which we would say that New Zealanders may welcome any interchange upon equitable terms, but they must be careful that they are not exploited for the benefit of American trusts. They should know when they are well served, and be careful not to drop the substance of the close connection with Great Britain in order to grasp what may prove to be only an American shadow.