HEW ZEALAND TRADE.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 49, 26 August 1905, Page 5

HEW ZEALAND TRADE.

WEST COAST AND SOUTH AFRICAN SERVICES. SOME URGENT NECESSITIES. In presenting his fourths annual statement, the Minister for Industries and Commerce (Sir. J. G. Ward) states thuts the policy of keeping the produots of the colony prominently before the consuming public of the world is being steadily followed, and that special attention is beirig paid to the supplying of all manner of commercial information relative to the resources of the colony. There could be no doubt that in a producing country such as New Zealand undoubtedly is the question of transport of produce to the different markets is of paramount importance, and he goes on. to state that the present contract for freight of dairy produce is to bo determined, and a new contract is being negotiated at reduced rates. Tho Minister urged that careful supervision should be kept by the Department over all developments in regard %o freights, and when the interests of the cv • lony's producers are being inimically affected it should speak with no uncertain sound, and, if necessary, the colony I should step hi to ensure that freights bG maintained at reasonable rates. The present contract for the South African service, continues tho Minister, terminates in October nest, and he has no intimation from the contractors as to whether it is their intention to continue the service after that time. Tho discontinuation of the service would, he remarks, be a heavy loss to the producers of the colony, and to those enterprising traders who have built up trade with. South Africa by this opportunity. The steam services to and from the West Coast ports of the United Kingdom have developed trade both ways in a most satisfactory manner, and ac far as the Minister can judge tho time is not far off when the trade promoted by thig^ service will assume such dimensions as will warrant the contractors supplying a direct service, and not, as at present, via South Africa. Should that be done, he looks forward with confidence to a still greater increase in the business now being done. The contractors, in response to his representations, signified their intention' to reduce the freight on butter from Jd to gd per lb. If, in addition, direct sailings ■were provided thero seems, he remarks, every probability of a very large share of the export of dairy produce finding its way out of the colony at greater reduced rates than hitherto prevailed. Should the reduction in butter freights become general, it would mean a saving of freight) on the colony's output of butter to the extent of £60,000 per annum, and the placing of the colony. on the same footing regarding freight on butter ac is enjoyed by our Australian neighbours. Tho Minister goes on to urge the necessity, as soon as the present excitement in tho East is over, "of making overtures to one or more of the shipping companies trading there to extend their services s to this colony. "Once we have a line of steamers connecting with the markets of Japan, China, and Manila," he says, "I am convinced we shall find a satisfactory outlet for a portion of almost everything this colony produces." Regarding the failure of the attempt to bring the Vancouver service to New Zealand, the Minister expressed the opinion that some vigorous policy should be adopted with the object ot promoting trade and interchange with Canada. He has, lie say v , no hesitation in stating that with a direct steam cargo service to and from Canada and reasonable freights a very large increase of trade both ways could be effected. The question of the marketing of the colony's produce is, he states, one that requires earnest consideration. Under the present conditions the disposal of tho colony's produce is in too many hands. This question, and the matter of freight on produce, as compared with countries whose position is moro favourahlo, will require to bo faced very seriously in the future, if this colony's producers are to get tho best results from their differen-' uioustrics.