TRADE OPPORTUNITIES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 225, 20 September 1913, Page 11

TRADE OPPORTUNITIES.

HEW ZEALAND'S NEW MARKETS VANCOUVER AND 'FRISCO. (By Telegraph.—Farllamentsry Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Replying to a question by Mr. Witty during discussion of the Agricultural Department's estimates early this morning, the Prime Minister stated that the Vancouver trade had developed to a much greater extent than was expected at first, and the possibilities were enormous. There were two years to run with the present contract. Complaints were received from shippers of produce owing to their failure to provide adequate cool storage on the steamers. This had been improved by the larger class of boats now put on, and he read a letter which in August he sent to the Union Steamship Company, expressing the views of the butter shippers and the Union Steamship Company's reply, which has already been telegraphed. The Prime Minister's comment upon th c company's letter was that he did not think it possible to induce the company to reduce freights until the contract expired, but apparently they were doing all they could to provide space for the shippers. There was evidently a particularly profitable market opening up. Mr. Witty: There is a good market for meat, too. The Prime Minister: I have no doubt that, taking San Francisco and Vancouver together, within a very few years they will take a very large proportion of all the butter and meat we are able to produce in New Zealand. Sir J. Ward expressed satisfaction at the developments which had occurred. Some time ago, in the face of some opposition, he appointed a trade representative to push New Zealand -business in Canada. He wished to know why this man was not retained. There was a feeling tbat it was because this man's friends were not supporters of the Government. It was to be hoped that the American system of changing men because of their political proclivities was not going to prevail in New Zealand. He knew from those who did business with America, and Canada that this officer had been invaluable in assisting to develop trade there. An exhibit of all New Zealand products 6hould be arranged in Vancouver. Answering the suggestion that the trade representative was dispensed with on account of his politics, the Prime Minister said he was not aware of the man'- politics, but the Government received a number of complaints in regard to him. He had his eye upon an officer of the Government who would go to the Panama Exhibition to represent New Zealand, and afterwards act as trade representative in San Francisco. Mr. Young declared that the Auckland merchants and shippers of dairy ■produce were complaining of the handicap they were being placed under compared with Wellington in the matter of freights this year to San Francisco; owing to the coastal charges. The member read a letter from the New Zealand Dairy Company, in which figures were quoted showing that Auckland was worse off this year than previously. Wellington merchants were getting their butter shipments through to 'Frisco for a penny per lb, whereas Auckland merchants, it was pointed out, had to pay one-fourth and one-fifth oi a penny per lb in addition for coastal freight. The: position, it was added, was viewed with I |~Tave concern by Auckland merchants.