THE SOUTH AFRICAN MARKET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7938, 11 January 1906, Page 6

THE SOUTH AFRICAN MARKET.

MR GRAHAM GOW'S VIEWS. Mr Gow, recently Trade Commissioner for the colony, in South Africa, explaining to an interviewer the position of affairs in Capetown, said that New Zealand 'shippers should have their own representatives there to see that shipments were attended to, and to undertake responsibilities and make terms with merchants, tif necessary. If Arm could not bo represented individually, they should combine, and all shippers of the same class of goods should appoint an agent, That scheme was adopted by shippers in other countries, who consequently worked at a great advantage. Ike Taieri and Peninsula Dairy Company and South Canterbury Farmers' Association were represented in that way and found the system beneficial. Many complaints were made in regard to the manner in which New Zoalaud goods bad been shipped. A letter he had received from Durban, for instance, staind that "shipment of New Zealand poultry have been so unsatisfactory thpt 1 feel inclined to think that until grading and packing are on a better footing you ore wast ing time over tho business. Several recent shipments have boon very disappointing, and 1 have written to shippers stating that until both the Government grading and the business generally receive closet attention, I do not feel inclined to make any fresh sales of New Zealand poultry." The principle in connectioa with poultry was that the sizes were too small; 3 y 2 lb was tho average, whereas it ought to be the minimum, and shippers ought to quote per lb instead of p».r bird. "Ihore have been complaints," a letter stated, "on the score that while some birds will run over 4J4ib, others in the same case are not gVolb." Sheep should be from 401b to 451b, and lambs from 20tb to 301b. Small but good carcases are wanted. Above all, if the service to South Africa were continued, shippers should be careful to send nothing- but the beat, and to send it so that it would arrive in the very beat condition A large exhibition will be opened at Johannesburg in October, 1907, and Mr Gow thinks that it would be desirable to send on New Zealand's exhibits from the International Ex hibtiion, WLich will close here in April next year. During his residence in South Africa large numbers of farmers made inquiries in regard to New Zealand, and he concluded that many of them in tended to come to this colony.