Hawke's Bay Herald. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1899. DIRECT TftADE WITH MANCHESTER.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11119, 11 January 1899, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1899. DIRECT TftADE WITH MANCHESTER.

A Manchester firm, Messrs M'Kerrow and Pease, whose members were for some years merchants in the South Island, have addressed to the Pr&ss of the colony a circular letter, covering an article in the Manchester Ev&nfag Vhronivk on direct trade with Australia and ftew Zealand, It was recently announced that very large cold Btorage chambers had been opented in J_an^ cheater for the reception of colonial produce. But Messrs M'Jterrow and Pease maintain that is not enough, though good in its way, as produce imported to Manchester through London has to bear very heavy port charges and railway carriage, which in themselves would constitute a decent wholesale profit, and consequently the Argentine and other countries which export direct to Manchester capture the trade there with inferior products, especially meat. Although an inland city, Manchester is to ail intents and purposes a port, being connected with the Bea hy a canal capable of accommodating the largest merchant steamers, It commences at Eastham, on the south shore of the Mersey, and extends to Trafford Bridge, in Manchester, a distance of 35 mites, where docks, eighty-five acres and a-half in extent, are constructed. The minimum depth is 26ft, with a bottom width of 120 ft. The article commences by the observation that it is singular that movements which are obviously necessary are so slow in making a beginning. This applies to most things, says the Chronicle, but seems to have a special application to the mercantile community. Practically, ever since the opening of the Manchester ship canal, traders in the populous locality of which that "city is the centre have felt that the water-way ought to be Utilised freely by steamers having a direct connection between Australasian ports and Manchester. Thisidea.it is stated, has been pressed upon the attention of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce from time to time by representative Australians, and quite recently the Hon. Robert Reid . put it to the members of the Cham- ' ber that Manchester must be a l terminal port, so far as the interchanges of commodities with the Australasian colonies is concerned. | There is hope at last, the Chronicle affirms, that something J may be done. Acting upon the suggestion of Mr Alfred J, Pease, the members who heard Mr Heid's address decided to recommed the j directors of the Chamber to form a committee in order that the abstract expression of opinion may take concrete Bhape. It is not to be supposed that the forming of this - committee will commit the Chamber to the establishment of a new line of „ steamers. What they could do, il however, would be this : The director* would be able to open up communication with responsible bodies in the colonies. Ideas and useful information would be exchanged, and there is every likelihood that something tangible would come about. Mr Pease, the article proceeds to state, put this view of the situation with much emphasis to an Evening Chronicle representative, being very well qualified to speak of the resources and prospects of the colonies and the chances of a direct trade with that part of the country I which shall be mutually remuneral) tive. He sees no reason why the communication should not be established. Look for a moment, he said, at the circumstances and opportunities. _ Within a radius of 50 miles of Manchester there is a population much larger than within a similar radius of London. The city itself is the centre of, perhaps, the largest consuming locality in tho world. The population is ready to take the proL- ducts of Australasia to a far greater extent than is the case of the South of England, where there are more of the leisured class, and Yvhere the manufacturing element does not exist to the same extent. " Here we have people who want to be decently fed at a small cost, and the Australasian frozen mutton and lamb supplies a want which cannot be met by the English farmer. At one time some people hardly tasted ( s animal food from one year's end to another. Now they can have it p every day, and the best cuts at that. The mutton that comes over is s thoroughly wholesome. Sheep in 1 the colonies have not inherited the ills to which the Home animal is heir." Being asked what other proy . ducts of the colonies would be likely to yield a good return, Mr Pease replied that they would send cheese and butter, canned meats, and raw hides, and there was no reason why the wool which Yorkshire needs' should not come to Manchester instead of London. On the other hand, iron and earthenware from Staffordshire, and manufactured textile goods from Lancashire and Yorkshire, ought to be exported by way of the canal. To sum up, practically _ everything is made in the district, to meet the needs of the colonies," In t answer to questions as to what he N thought would be the best method of setting about promotion of a direct steam service ? how the funds were to be provided ? and what would be the attitude of the colonies? Mr Pease said that there would be no doubt as to the attitude of the colonies "The initiative would have to come from this side, because the colonists are not as wealthy as we are, and, moreover, have their money locked up in land or kind. | But any movement here would be warmly supported there." The Manchester Chamber of Commerce might do a great deal by opening up communication, so that better information might be available as to the class of goods required in Austral- ■ asia, and the colonists be instructed as to the products most useful in the thickly populated districts of f which Manchester ia now the port. There is no doubt that Mr Pease is correct in saying that the initiative must come from Manchester. Colonial shippers would be quick to take advantage of a new market if they found that their returns were better. The main difficulty, it appears to us, lies in the miscellaneous cargoes which are sent from the colonies. For a large part of the year wool formß a very important part of Buch cargoes, and the English market for wool is centred in Loudon. Jt would be useless to send direct to Manchester i'or part of the year, and for the rest to send produce through London. To bring about what is desired the shipments must be regular, aud at present the conditions are against that regularity.