The Wairarapa Daily. Friday, JANUARY 6, 1882.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 967, 6 January 1882, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. Friday, JANUARY 6, 1882.

The following article upon "New Markets" is extracted from the Melbourne Leader. It calls our attention more forcibly tlian ever to the necessity of looking to our means of foreign communication, and not paying so much attention to opening lip the interior by railways, For what is the use of railways if we cannot dispose of our produce. Like a gigantic spicier, New Zealand should throw out its steam arms over the sea, and through these arms its trade lifo of production would throb with an increasing force. We can cover the interior by railways, and yet not produce a single pound in value moro than we do at present, Let us reckon up the markets we have at our command: England, by sail, to be converted into steam. San Francisco, by steam- but useless in consequence of heavy protective duties, which are not likely to be reduced, Melbourne and Sydney, by steam. Brisbane, no communication (Queensland requires hams, 'oacon, butter, cheese, hay, oats, and all Buch farm and dairy produce,) New Caledonia,communication by schooners, whereas a steam line is wanted. (The French Government are calling for tenders in New Zealand for the supply of three thousand tons of flour,) Fiji, by Bteam. South Sea Islands, by numerous small sailing craft. China, by Messrs Turnbull's vessels. India, no communication, but a splendid trade might be made with the Indian Empire in horses, coal, 'preserved meats, and dairy produce. The following article calls our attention to the Cape and Canada, two other markets. The Cape trade might be shared in when the steam line to England 11 established. Our Government promises to consider the matter during the coming session. If America does not reduce its import duties upon wool, we suggest that New Zealand no longer subsidise the Pacific Mail Service. The service at most is a costly mail line for Sydney's special benefit, and our subsidy to it might well be given to a direct line home. As to Canada, trade with the Dominion .is more difficult now that we do not purchase timber, but a vessel occasionally comes in from the Pacific, The following is the article referred to: "wheat is an article of export which Victoria is immensly interested in studying. In the European markets we meet competitors who despatch it from India, Russia, and America, as well as from the other colonies, We have therefore to put our best foot forth to get a place in the.race and in the face of such rivalry need not he surprised to learn that 60s per quarter ia th©. average price. to to obtained

there during the season of greatest demand. To prevent overstocking the Euaopean Rale-rooms it is necessary for \is to cast about for other markets to which at all events a portion of our crop might be despatched to realise better prices or to keep down our supply in England, South Africa affords such a market, one that has been hitherto overlooked by our shippers, though taken advantage of by our South Australian neighbours who have this season.sent something like 45,000 tons of wheat and flour to the Cape- Why should "Victoria not have a finger in the pie 1 Once our wheat was soft and inferior to theAdelade article, but now that we improved our product so as to run it hard into flew South Wales and Queensland, why should we not succeed in competition in South Africa as well. The only reason that can be assigned for Ihe omission of this market is that onr shippers laclc enterprise, and that our wheat is consequently not known in Cape Colony. Lot it be made known, and both parties will reap a benefit. Another market is opening to us. A provincial exhibition held at Ontario has been the means of introducing our products to the Canadian public. In that part of the Dominion alone they consume 10,000,0901bs of wool per annum, while throughout its length and breacth there is an 'sager demand for our furs and hides, Australian wines are only just becoming known, but promise to be well appreciated, while other produots only require to be introduced to create a domaud. There is no reason whatever why we should not do business direct with Canada without the intervention of Liverpool brokers or agents, The Canadians will purchase' from us our wool, wine, furs, and similar goods in large quantities, and this is all wo need ask. At the same time there is a sentimental satisfaction derived in dealing with our own kin, and in announcing the possibility of a new development of intercolonial trade," Such is the extract. What applies to Victoria applies with equal force to New Zealand. If our readers will only think what we have done, and what we might have done, during the past ten yeai'3, they will do well. We might have subsidized steam lines over the sea to the different countries above named at a yearly cost of . about i£loo,ooo, and no capital debt of 130,000,000. The debt would have stood at something less than <£10,000,000. What we have done is to incur that debt, and a yearly charge of £1,500,000 for interest. Such is the vaunted railway policy, as compared with that of foreign communication. Now we have to go back and do what we ought to have done-find

these markets and pay these subsidies, True, it will be said that , the country has been opened up and we can now trade, But the cost has almost ruined us, and is very likely to keep our children poor and struggling for the whole of their lives, It is very certain that they cannot put by money if the Government has to take it all vway in taxation. The opening up of inland communication should have waited until foreign trade ..demanded it. The mistake has been serious.