TRADE CONDITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 85, 10 April 1935, Page 3

TRADE CONDITIONS

[PRODUCERS UNCERTAIN

HARBOUR BOARD PROBLEMS

When speaking about the trading figures of the Port of Wellington on the occasion of 'the annual meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board, the chairman of that body, Mr. T. R. Barrer, said that he mentioned these figures in order to draw the attention of members of the board to the satisfactory trading increase that had taken place and apparently seemed to be maintained, and which appeared to indicate that the altered conditions arising out of certain legislative enactments had been accepted by the trading community, and these interests were functioning with more confident assurance than during the past few years. . "However," continued Mr. Barrer, "as if to confuse the issues from the productive and developmental point of view of the Dominion's trade, we are faced with certain trade conditions that for the moment have caused great unrest in the minds of the producers. This must eventually react prejudicially on every section of trade in the Dominion. It may not be too much to hope that notwithstanding the uncertainty of the outlook the eventual result wiU be much better than is anticipated today, but whatever the result may be we must face up to the difficulties ahead and where possible find fresh markets for our exportable products. "All methods of transport charges should be closely examined and this refers chiefly to the overseas carriage of our goods, and every possible saving should- be effected in the time taken for the delivery of our goods to our clients and the cost entailed in delivery. Geographically by comparison with our competitors we are placed at a disadvantage of 50 per cent, by distance in the carriage of our goods to markets and notwithstanding the scientific advances made in our knowledge of refrigeration or cool storage by gas-sealed chambers or otherwrise; our plain duty is to have our products placed on the market in the shortest possible time, in the freshest possible condition, and at the lowest possible cost. Is it too much to hope that matters of such grave moment will be considered from a national standpoint and every possible and adequate means taken to have our goods from the farm placed on the market for disposal in the shortest possible time, or must we go on as we have been going?" Mentioning the decline in wool values, Mr. Barrer said that the position had seriously affected the revenue of the Dominion. "It is not too much to say that North Island wool is being sold at a loss of not less than 40 per cent, below the cost of production. The temptation for those who are .financially strong enough to hold wool is therefore very great. Consequently, the number of bales shipped passing over our wharves is reduced and as a result revenue suffers. It is 'not easy to find a remedy for this. Indeed the only remedy that can be suggested is the sale of the staple at' a price more closely approximating the cost of production." Mr. Barrer's final remarks, , after traversing the board's financial position, dealt with the gradual change taking place on the waterfront. "The completion of the new railway station," he said, "will mark a complete change in the approaches to the city and wharves as we know them today, and this may lead to a consideration by the board of the future accommodation of the principal regular passenger services.