OVERSEA TRADING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3012, 8 October 1908, Page 7

OVERSEA TRADING.

DECREASE IN EXPORTS

EFFORTS AT EXTENSION

The efforts of a Government Department in pushing New Zealand products among the consumers of other coutries are described in the annual report of the Industries and Commerce Department. Our exports, in totalling £17,869,354 last year, Avere £1,662,765 less in value than those for the previous twelve months, states the Minister in charge of the Department. The products which have been chiefly concerned in the •decrease arn as follows:

Decrease. Quantity. Value. Wool 7,275,744 lb. 1,465,702 .Mutton 160,0.96 cwt. 161,182 .Butter cwt. 183,720 Hemp 5,302 tons 164,056 'Gold 25,077 oz. 138,430 Total £2,113,090 As against this there has been a very satisfactory increase in lamb, beef, sheep, and rabhit-skms, cheese, and timber, which partly compensated for the very heavy decrease. The value of all imports for the .year, including specie and parcels, amounted to £17,302,861, as against £15,323,127 for the previous year, •showing an increase of £1,979,734.

PRICES OF PRODUCTS. The Minister pointed ou*- that the Dominion was particularly unfortunate in having a shortage in its butter output during a season when prices on the London market reached a point far in advance of any previous season, the high figure of 152s per hundredweight having been realised during the year, and the average price being 20s to 30s per hundredweight higher than for previuus years. The prices for butter, cheese, mutton, lamb, and beef, the majority of our exports, have been of a very satisfactory nature. On the other hand, there has been somewhat of a collapse in the wool and hemp markets, but for both these important items there is evidence of a better demand, and higher prices are likely to be realised during the coming year. Reports are to band of a bountiful harvest in Ihe United States and Canada; the effect of this on the financial conditions of these countries, with a consequent commercial activity, will not fail to J have its beneficial influence on the J wool and hemp markets. The products of the Dominion ap- |

pear t6 be holding their own in covn-

petition with those of other countries ! in a very satisfactory manner. A great deal of evidence is forthcoming as to increased appreciation of the Dominion's butter, cheese, and meats by the consumers of Great Britain, and judging by the various reports ■attached, the Department in ajranging attractive New Zealand displays at the great exhibitions, is doing good work, not only to induce trade, but tn arouse an interest in New Zealand which results in immigration.

TRADE EXTENSION. Reports were obtained upon the possibility of extending trade with Canada and the West of England. In regard to the latter, the Department recommends that efforts be made to

secuie, if possible, a more frequent ' and speedy service, which is necessary to give our produce a chance to compete on equal terms with that entering the western ports of Great Britain from othe- sources. Attention should be paid to the question -of securing a direct service with big ports on the East Coast. The port of Hull (according to official report) serves a population of over ten millions at rates of conveyance •equal to or lower than those of any other port, and in view of developing our connection with European ports it may be stated that there are regular weekly sailings from Hull to near continental, Baltic, and Scandinavian ports, and Hull would therefore prove very convenient for the transhipment of this traff'c. During the wool season direct steamers owned by the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company and the New Zealand Shipping Company have called at Hull, but so far have not brought

any meat owing to the fact that no cold-storage was available at that | * port. This difficulty has now been j overcome. In addition to a very substantial quantity of this country's exports which is finding its way into the eastern ports of Canada, chiefly via London, the Minister is confident that a very good trade is to be done with the western ports of that country in butter, frozen meat, hemp, wool, etc., when more suitable shipping facilities are ( available. Unfortunately, the present subsidised steamers between New Zealand and Vancouver are not provided with refrigerator-space, but it is hoped that this drawback may be remedied later.