MARKET FOR N.Z. PRODUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 196, 18 August 1913, Page 6

MARKET FOR N.Z. PRODUCE.

HIG-H COMMISSIOHEH. AT HULL. THE SUBSIDY QUESTION. (From Our special Correspondent.) LONDON. July 1.. The Hon. T. Mackenzie. High Commissioner for New Zealand, has been paying a visit to Hull, and making a Uvo days' tour round tlie port. Mr. .Mackenzie and his companions, Mr. Alexander Crabbe and Mr. Christison. were entertained at a private lunch at the Station Hotel by directors of the North-Eastern Railway Company anil the Hull and Ha rn-ley Railway Company. During the afternoon the party visited the Joint Dock ami the Alexandra Dock. an 1 Mr. Mackenzie was much impresse-1 by the facilities provided for loading and discharging vessels, and also by tiie coll storage accommodation. Driving to tile (iuiliUinll, Mr. Mackenzie and puny were received by the Mayor-AI iernuin ,1. I'.rown who, in expressing liis pleasure thai. Mr. Mackenzie wns visiting Hull, said be though: a tour of the dock? would convince him that Hull posse. .'..-.I up-to-date fuelitie- for dealing Willi trade, and reminded the visitors tha Ifnll was iiie natural distributing centre for the great industrial population el the North. Mr. Mackenzie, in replying, said his tour of Hull, though only half completed, has been a revelation as to tne capacity of the port. Tiie suitability ot Hull as a centre for Anglo-Australasian trade was undoubted, smd as the world's competition increased it must eventuate in the closer touch of the producer with the roiisumer. The present roundabout process of reaching mark' i- i.n1.l nor

iong continue ii cMiip.-litiott went on. There must be a lessening of intermediate costs and a reach ing of th" spot, if he might use ihe phrase, us soon us possible.

Next iln.v tlie High Commissioner and his party continued bis "spying out the land" campaign, visilhig Lite North--astern Railway Company's docks and the llumber Street fruit saie rooms an.l the industrial portion ol" the city. They were entertained at luncheon by the ( liambcr of Commerce, and ill response to the toast of "Tiic Visitors," Mr. Mac koii-ir made a lengthy speech on the ex tension of direct trade relations between New Zealand and Hull, lie said that the question of distribution was one of tin greatest importance. At the present time the total distribution of their produce was almost confined to London, and in his opinion it was undesirable for

the whole of the produce to go through one centre. They wanted to minimise the cost of distribution and to lessen the deterioration that was caused in the handling of the goods. jr.lll was the natural port for a population of over eleven millions. If the produce were

.shipped to Hull there was no reason why the present high rates of insurance should continue, for there would be little or no damage on arrival, and it would be handled with great, care. Those considerations and savings seemed to leave a margin of from 5 to 7 per cent for them to work upon if tlie stuff were landed there as against London, and it was a fair assumption that that benefit would be shared equally by the producer and the consumer.

The question of v subsidy came in. He understood Australia cont riblltcd £801) per trip to the vessels that came. In his opinion, that was not an excessive charge, and they had to set against that the share in the economies he had mentioned. He was preptred to go into the question of shipping when he had an opportunity to lay the whole case before tho Ministry iv Now Zealand for their final decision.

Speaking of Hull's development. Mr Mackenzie said he found that the value of imports and exports amounted to no less lltan 73 miliionis sterling pertannum. That showed an enormous development was taking place in the port. Hull imported £:•),! 75,000 worth of butter alone—nearly double the outpot of New Zealand. That showed the demand was there, and it was only right that they should be supplied by their own country people across tlie seas who were willing and able to do it.

Mr. Mackenzie was subsequently welcomed at the Exchange. In .liis'reply, he said that New Zealand was desirous of extending her trade. Hull possessed all the facilities, and served a population which required the New Zealand products. Any obstacles there might be to establishing a shipping connection should not be insurmountable.