A LOST TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 143, 18 June 1924, Page 8

A LOST TRADE

AUSTRALIAN WATTLE CHEAP LABOUR COMPETITION. ; ' (PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) - -.■ -: ■ SYDNEY, sth June. Australia's wattle.bark industry once promised to be .of .world-wide scope and highly, lucrative. -The product, which, as everybody Knows, 'is invaluable for tanning purposes, grows well throughout huge areas, yet to-day, owing to the differing labour conditions between the two countries, South Africa, which was originally supplied with the seeds from Australia, actually lauds the bar* in Sydney and sells it at £1 per ton cheaper than the local product. For Australia it is a lost trade. „ ' It is an old story of how .nearly^3o years ago a large quantity of wattle seed was sent <vbm South Australia' to Aatal for 6d per lb. Since then South Arican growers, have made tremendous headway, and for the twelve months.enaed 31st.March last, the importation' of Natal bark into Australia .totalled' 6121 tons—an average of 510 tons a month. The value fluctuated between £7 15s to £8 a ton net,' c.i'.f., Australian ports- Inprevious years the importations have been 'as high as 8000 tons for the twelve months. Prior to the;last revision of the tariff, the rate of duty on Natal bark was 30s a ton. It was then increased tp £3, which is the-present ruling rate. ■ Even in the fact of this 100 per tent, increase, the importations are greater than for the previous season: The Adelaide hills produce the, finest quality wattle bark in the ;world. Natal has practically the same climatic conditions as South Australia, and although not growing bark of the same high quality it reaches 'maturity more quickly, and cost of labour (Kaffir) is very much cheaper—a few shillings a ton. -The ruling rate for stripping bark in Australia may be anythirig from £3 to £4 a ton, and in many cases the growers " are,prepared to go' half shares with the stripper. Mem to undertake this, work, however, are hard to get at the time when they are \fanted, despite the ar-my of unemployed, the great -majority of whom will not leave the .city. ' . '' j

Another, vital factor in- connection with this industry , is- the•• question of cheap freights. Many, of the cargo steamers come* from Swedish ports, and discharge part cargo at' Capetown and Durban, and they Ere prepared to fill'up their holds with bark and maize at rates ruling from 25s' to 30s a ton. Often cheaper rates .can ,be obtained. The cost of sending bark from Port Adelaide to Sydney i s 25s a ton, and to Brisbane proportionately higher. Quotations for the South African product'at' present are in the regjcm of from £8 I,os .to £8 15s a ton net, c.i.f., Australian ports. Growers in the Adelaide hills received for the season just closed practically an average all-round price of £10 a delivered at the bark mills, and by the time payment has been made for grinding, baes, cartage, wharfages, and freights to the Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane markets, who draw^ largely upon South Australia'for their supplies, Adelaide bark is considerably, higher in price than theimpprted Natal article." \ •