TRADE PROSPECTS

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19502, 26 December 1928, Page 10

TRADE PROSPECTS

HOPES FOR NEW YEAR. CONDITIONS MORE SETTLED. (OTITED PEZSS ASSOCIATION—BY ELZCT2.IC TELEGRiPE— COPYRIGHT.) (Received December 25th, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 24. Prospects for 1928, measured by the hopes of a year ago, are disappointing, according to Mr Ebbisham, president of the Federation of Industries. There have not been any gains, but nevertheless there have not been losses. ' This is the quietest year since the Armistice," he said. "World conditions are more settled, and disputes in Britain are notably absent. There has been, a material shrinkage in the adverse trade balance. Regeneration and reorganisation of industry have been undertaken, which should provide a basis for substantial results in 1929." Mr Hitchens, of Cammell, Laird, Ltd., is despondent, and does not see signs of a marked revival. Steel orders are scarce, and prices are keenly cut.' The chief hope lies in the recent, important steps to reorganise industry. Far-reaching adjustments are inevitable. Shipbuilding is similarly depressed. There is no sign of a solution. The capacity of the British yards exceeds the demand. There is no indication that the demand will be sufficiently expanding. Mr Ben Tillett believes that if Britain presents a united front she can compete with America, France, and Germany. He is of opinion that all the combined Peace Conferences between employers and trades unions constitute a genuine gesture, and are capable of working wonderful changes for the country's good and the betterment of trade. Labour must be prepared to shoulder the increased responsibility which arises from a bigger share in industry. Labour is willing to co-operate under fair condition, but there must be more trust and less suspicion. A good team work can produce the progress that everybody desires. —Autralian Press Association. ' MEAT PROSPECTS. HOME AUTHORITY'S OPINION. | Mr Eric H. Fitter, a director of the well-known firm of Henry S. Fitter and Sons, who conduct large operations in New Zealand frozen meat at the central markets, Smithfield, London, is at present in New Zealand for the purpose of getting into personal touch with their customers and their requirements. To a "Hawke's Bay Tribune", representative, Mr Fitted said that 90 per cent, of the firm's business was done in New Zealand and that since 1856 three generations of his house had devoted themselves to the; study of the meat supplies in Britain, in which f-on-nexion ne incidentally remarked that his firm had handled part of the .nrst shipment of New Zealand mutton and lamb, which arrived at England m the Albion Shipping Company's' clipper Dunedin, in 1882. That shipment consisted of 598 carcases lamb and 4311 of mutton, which fetched 6JJ and 6Jd per lb on the Smithfield market. "You might like to know something of the world prospects for meat," said Mr Fitter. "Well, we have arrived at a period when the markets throughout tne world are . more steadied and, if anything, the conditions point to higher values, so that in the next few years New Zealand should find more stable markets for her meat. The supplies. of chilled meat from the Argentine are likely to. be less, owing to the fact that some of their best land is now being used for cereals. This must exercise 'a: beneficial effect on New' Zealand meat;;which, though not so. convenient • for-tne ;butchers to handle as the chilled article, is largely used for the Army and Navy and shipping lines contracts, because the New Zealand frozen beer is, far more suitable for transport in storage. _ "The North'lsland lambs" he said, "are now quite equal to any lamb in the world, and'this is due to the good breeding with the Southdown cross, as well as to the top dressing of the land. You know we do' a large amount of the judging of the New' Zealand carcases sent Honte after the various shows, and so we are' in'a position'to note the improvementvin'tne meat. The New Zealand export has improved enormously during the last few years. This is partly due to the excellent grading, which is of a very high standard, and which New Zealanders should be very jealous of maintaining, because it has established for'the Dominion a reputation of ■ the English markets for quality and reliability, which is of inestimable advantage to the country's trade. , "New Zealand produce generally," he said, "not only meat, but butter, cheese, apples, honey, and other products is accepted as being sound from the fact alone-that it'bears the New Zealand brand. This is not a mere platitude, nor .is -the acknowledgment merely confined to the people in the trade, because the public generally, in ordinary convefsation, speak of the consistent good quality of New Zealand goods. For instance, I was in a bus one day when one passenger said to another: 'Have you tried-any of the New Zealand Cox's orange pippin apples? They are excellent.' ; *No, I haven't,' was the reply, 'but everything from New Zealand is sure to be good.'" RECORD PROFITS. (tTIfITED PBESB ASSOCIATION—BY ZLECTBIO TELEGRAPH —-COPYRIGHT.) (Received December 24th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, December 24. The Berlin correspondent of the "Daily Mail" states tint Siemens, the great German electrical concern, announce a record net profit of £1,750,000 fog the year.—Australian Press Association. TREATIES WITH CHINA. (FBESB ISSOCXATION TELEGBAM.) WELLINGTON, December 24. Mr Yue H. Jackson, Acting-Consul for the Republic of China, has received a cablegram from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the National Government, stating that nine countries have signed treaties with China recognising tariff autonomy for the Republic. I Belgium, Italy, Denmark, and Portugal, in addition to conceding tariff autonomy, have fixed definite dates on which they will relinquish their extraterritorial rights and the civil and criminal jurisdiction of the Consuls in China. France and Spain are negotiating for a similar concession and will soon arrive at an agreement Japan only has not yet opened negotiations witn China.