GLASGOW A MARKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 198, 22 August 1935, Page 4

GLASGOW A MARKET.

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE,

A LAKGE POPULATION

Comparison of the populations of Glasgow and environs and of all New Zealand show that the former hae a concentrated population of 1,305,000 and New Zealand a scattered one of 1,553,000. Glasgow has taken this season 0453 tons of New Zealand butter and 3037 tons of Xew Zealand cheese and from October 1 last year to June. 193."), its imports of New Zealand meat amount to 18,937 quarters of beef, 237,044 carcaeee of mutton, 73,72ti carcases of lamb, 92,331 carcases of pork and 1D5.753 bags of boneless beef, but it is willing to greatly increase its direct imports of New Zealand and other Dominion products, and this appears to be difficult because, as Mr. Harold M. Ford, commercial manager of the Clyde Navigation Trust, alleges, propaganda adversely criticising the port and markets of Glasgow has been at work. Mr. Ford states that opposition ha* all along been forthcoming to any development of direct shipping and marketing of overseas supplies with Glasgow. This has been intensified during the paet year. These reports have taken the form of decrying Glasgow as a port and marketing centre worthy of little or no consideration, and characterising the trading interests of Glasgow as being of little use. to Australian trade.

Further statements, quite erroneous, have been made warning Australian interests, that to ship their goods to Glasgow and entrust them to 'Glasgow traders would result in heavy loss coinpared with London and the necessity of transferring them to London for disposal.

So far as these statements were concerned, the position wae quite the reverse. stated Mr. Ford. as. with the increasing development of Dominion trade, Glasgow had been proving one of the best, if not the best market in the country. It would be obvious to the trust how damaging the circulation ot such propaganda and reports was among the producing interests who had no first-hand knowledge oi the opportunities of trade with Glasgow. Mr. Ford added that lie was taking every step possible to refute this propaganda, which he viewed with so much concern that lie deemed it necessary to make official representations to the High Commissioner of Australia.

The Shipping Trade. Mr. Ford reported that in spite of many difficulties further progress had been made in the development of trade to and from the Clyde with thoee eountriea with whose trade hie department wan con-

corned. In the homeward trade from Australia the number of vessels received during the year totalled SO, representing an in-and-out tonnage of 430.372 tons, being four vessels less than were received in I!>:s.'S. Despite this decrease in vessels there was an increase in the tonnage of goods received of 24.'!0 tone more than in l!) 33: the total imports amounting to 132,033 lons, as compare,! with 129,653 tone the previous year. The export trade showed nn increase to Australia last year of two more vessels loading out with a greater tonnage of cargoes of 7C91 tons over IOS'V, the figures for the year being 21 vessels carrying 47,017 tons of Scottish manufactures, The number of vessels homeward from Xew Zealand totalled 33. representing nn iu-and-out tonnage of 389.484 tone—an increase of four vessels over 1033. The tonnage of goods imported amounted to ,"JS.."i4C> tone—a decrease of 240 tone as compared with 1933. Eighteen vessels loaded out to New Zealand being the s.imo number as loaded nut in 1933, but carrying 23,964 tone ot oxpoi t cargo as against only 14.010 tons in 1933—an increase of 9048 tons. South African direct trade had increased. Quotas Restrict Trade. With the operation of quotas and restrictions on one commodity and a loeeened production in another, Mr. Ford reported, ••London interest* are naturally taking every etep to ensure that as far ;>s possible 'their supplies to the Port of London are not diminished in favour ot Glasgow, with the result that whereas reduced shipment,? have been made to the Clyde, large quantities, involving heavy expenditure, have been transhipped either by the East Coast route or overland to keep our markets supplied. . "Xot only dors this adversely affect the progress or" trade through the port, but, it is having a retarding effect upon the'progreea of trade with Xew Zealand and Scotland generally." The most important development in trade with which the department wae concerned Inst yenwas undoubtedly in connection with South African fruit. ' This trade, which has developed enormously in the laet 15 years, has in the past been almost entirely concentrated upon Southampton, with London Aβ the marketing centre. South Africa is shipping to this country approximately 2,500.000 cases of citrus fruit and 3.500.000 packages of deciduous fruits, which hitherto were discharged at Southampton by the Union Castle mail boats and distributed from there.