ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11461, 20 December 1902, Page 5

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(FKOM OCB OWN COEKESrOXDENT.) LONDON, November 15. Last week I reported that the Corinthic's passenger list was already full. Now I learn that she is rapidly filling up with cargo, though she will not be able to load to her utmost capacity owing to her draught of water being too great for the London docks. The Corinthic will start on her madden voyage at the end of next week. Referring to Imperial purchases of New Zealand produce, as given in a report furnished to the Government by the AgentGeneral for New Zealand, a London paper saye: —"It i» interesting to note that New Zealand is shipping f#r that destination (•South Africa) a considerable and an increasing quantity of dressed poultry. Some of this brought into London a little while ago caused surprise at Smithfield by reason of the excellent quality and dressing of the birds, though th«y were rather small for the English, market." New Zealand produce and prices and the proposed Central Board for London, as sug.gested Dy a Select Committee, is dealt with by an Anglo-colonial journal. The writer of an article on the subject save that:—"New Zealand food producers, like some other classes in their colony, have wondrous faith, in their powers of revolutionising. And their fingers appear to itch to start remodelling the business methods of the markets they supply, or, rather, partially supply. The other day attention was drawn to a proposition that the colonial Government should appoint produce graders and inspectors for London. How the officials to be appointed were to grade and inspect produce for wholly different buyers, some of it going into store, some being loaded into railway trucks, some going into 'lighters alongside ships, and all being widely distributed—even supposing every owner of the produce gave his consent—a most remote possibility—no one had been informed , . Now coraee a proposal, or what Jβ tantamount to it, that a Central Boaid should be set up in London, "with power to fix the price from day to day, and thus to regulate and control the. sales.', Until thie ie done 'the trade will never be upon a sound footing. . This is ifoe conclusion'come to by a Select Parliamentary Committee set up by the New Zealand Legislature, to consider questions relating to the frozen meat trade of the colony. . . With every w:eh to ccc New Zealand retain ite high position in the meat trade, we would .point out to the producers there that they have not a monopoly of the frozen meat business; that, given -better quality, that in iteeif will not permit of an indefinite elongation of I price; and that if they had their Central Board mo iholder is going to be foolish enough to tell them what stocks he has in cold storage ready to put in, or hold off, the market as best suits him. And if New Zealand producers have assisted to build up" the c.i.f. system, surely it may be taken that it lias been because they have found it, in part at all events, advantageous to do 80." "Some lack of foresight was charged agalnet the directors of Dalgety and Company, the Australian merchants,"- remarks a London financial critic, "whose funds are chiefly employed in making advances on land, live stock, wool, etc.,'W'hen it was found that they were obliged to recommend a ices?r rate for the final dividend on the year ended last Juno than that of the interim distribution, making only 7 per o?nt. for the year, as agaiwst 8 per cent, for each of the preceding fourteen years. Aβ a matter of fact, the directors had funds enough to distribute the usual 8 per cent., but the drought in Australia was of such unprecedented duration that they were compelled to make special provision for the uncertainties of the future. The drought still prevails, and the only mitigation of the seriousness of the position is the probability of an appreciable rice in the value of wool.", " The Elingamite disaster is too sad to ; In its city, article, "Truth"' describee tne "Pactolus of the South," this being New Zealand in relation to its dredging industry. The "degree of perfection" attained in dredging for gold is noted. But then writer goes on to warn the public igainst a prospectus that has been cent to dim. .•-.-■. . ■ ' In the House of Commons a few days ago Mr Lough aeked the Secretary of State tor ib> Colonies why the speeches- of the Uplonial Premiera delivered nt the recent 2cmference were not given in the Blue [Jook which had been issued; and whether t was proposed to issue supplementary topers giving full details of the procaedngs. • M?Chamberlain eaid, m reply : "I aa obliged to the bon. member for giving ne an opportunity of contradictinc some •cry extraordinary mieetatements that appeared in a London daily paper. If tie fill refer to the first page of the Blue Jook he will find the answer to his ques. ion. The fact is that the reason for not mbliehing a fall report of the proceedings i'ith the speeches of the Colonial' Prime Ministers was that objection was taken hat it would be a breach of faith to pubish what had been from the first treated s confidential. The Prime Ministers, towever, unanimously agreed thai the peeches of members of his Majesty's Go--eminent and certain papers ahould be

'given. Thurhas been done, and no fir ther papers will be published." A Parisian correspondent of a Londo paper refer* to the French market fc frozen meat, and report* that the inaugur; taon of the firet Parisian refrigeratin stores took place a few days ago, at tli Bourne de Commerce, where they have bee established in the basement of the build ing, in the rery heart of Paris, near U) Holies Centrales. An allusion was mad at the luncheon table to the sufferings tha would have been spared to the population had such β-teres been in existence thirt; years ago, when Paris was surrounded b; the German army. In time of war, eucJ eetabliehmente scattered over the territor of the Republic would certainly rende valuable services, bat as one, happily, lia ■no apprehensions that the peace will b broken in Europe for a generation or more they have been erected from a purel; peaceable and commercial point of view As a matter of couxse the Parisian Com pany will accept the patronage of foreigi as well ac that of French customers, am ite 10,000 cubic metres of space will b< filled tip by product*. from all countries It is to be hoped that New Zealand wil be well represented there.. In the House of Commons, Mr D. A Thomas (Uμ senior member for Merthvr, asked the Seoretary to the Admiralty whether the New Zealand coal now being supplied for tie use of the China Squadroi was similar to that given •in the table oi analysis on pace'3Bl of the New Zealaric Official Year Book for. 1901, as produced at Coalbrookdale, or to that produced at West port. Mr Arnold Forster repKed:— "The coal supplied to tlie China Squadfoi is that produced at Granity, Creek, about thirty from-Westport. Coajbrooltdale coal te produced at the DeSniston mines, also near Westport. A cargo oi the latter coal ia about to be tried on the China Station. , ' Mr Thtfm*B has given notice that on Tuesday next he will ask the Secretary to the Adnuralty the following questions: — If hreuttention has been drawn to a memorandum recently issued to senior officers on the China Stnt:o3 in reference to fh'.? friable nature of Westport ami, and the large proportion of j,ma;l ceil ;t contain*'; und d->sijilng that ite valtio shank!-be mad 2 known • generally, in ord?r. to anticipate complaints which m»y be mad» by officers unacquainted with this coal; =acd will he say if it is the practice of-the Admiraltj to nnticipate complaints of stores eupflied to the Navy j a.nd whether the Ne« eahmd coal supplied to the China Squad ron emits ;euch voiumee of emoke as t« make signalling difficult and 'often" betray* the position of the ship tising it lone before her masts appear ia eight. Mr D. A. Thomas has also given jnotcCe that on Wednesday he will ask th* Secretory to the Admiralty tfce following questioner--If he would state bxn* WtleTi and New Zealand coal compare in tie relation of bulk to weight and in fcne effective development of steam: what percentage less weight of New Zealand coal can be stowed in a given bunker space and how much more effective is a g*ven weight of Welsh coal in developing steam; and if he can state.approximately the actual and percentage difference in price between Welsh and New Zealand coal delivered at the China Station during the last few months; and if he will give the resulte of any recent full speed trials by has Majesty's armoured twin-screw cruiser Cressy, made with New Zealand or other coal