SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1904. OUR TRADE WITH SOUTH AFRICA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8100, 1 October 1904, Page 2

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1904. OUR TRADE WITH SOUTH AFRICA.

There is far more information in the Industries and Commerce Report than we have space- to notice just now in detail; but there are some general statements as to tho position which we can allude to and compnre with the views of Mr Clulee, an old New Zealand settler, now in business in Durban, who has come to the colony to make business arrangements, simply bacauso he finds that neither the methods of doing business nor the produce supplied is all that it should be. In the report there is a list of twelve subsidised steamers which sailed for South Africa during the year, from April, 1903, to the same month, 1904, and the names of two others which were not contract steamers. The former twelve, or rather eleven steamers, for the voyage of one was abandoned owing to an accident, up to the 31st March last took cargoes including 249,995 carcases mutton, 7508 quarters beef, 6452 carcases lamb, 275,043 sacks oats, 27,409 boxes butter, 23i)0 crates poultry, 6265 sides pork, 2398 cases potatoes, 15,369 live sheep, 687 crates cheese. The official comment on this is: "A steady volume of trade with South African ports has been maintained during the past year, carried on by subsidised steam service. Owing to the serious depression which is general throughout South Africa the trade has been restricted, chiefly the tightness of the money market." That is the verdict of the man who inspects. Now for }Ir Clulee, the man who handles the stuff in the way of trade. First of meat, in respect to the quality of which wa pride ourselves, and are accustomed to look with contempt on the produce of the Argentine, perhaps from seeing it quoted below New Zealand in price in the London market. Of our supply to South Africa Mr Clulee writes : — "The meat that was received from Australia and New Zealand could not compare with that regularly Bent by tho Argentine Republic. So far as Australia was concerned, this could be attributed in a great measure to the drought, and in the case of New Zealand tha best stuff appeared to be all sent to London, leaving only the second grade for the »South African market. The colonial meat was unquestionably inferior in quality to the Argentine, and the Republic was using its utmost endeavor to secure the South African market. Unless New Zealand and Australia combined to send regular supplies of the very best produce, carefully graded, at the very lowest rates, and suitable to the requirements of the country, they would, beyond all shadow of doubt, be rapidly shut out of the trade." We are bearing in mind that the point of view of Mr Clulee is that of th* middleman, but we are giving him credit for his desire as an old colonist to do the best he can for Maoriland. If the Argentine is making a special point of securing the South African market, it may that its choicest goes there, just as we are accused of sending our best to Britain, and second rate to Africa. But we do not forget that our first shipments were though* too good for the African market, and light plain sheep wero asked far. And, after all, taking the words of Mr Clulee, who invites us to send the very best produce at the very lowest rates, we are simply asked to compete with the Argentine in cutting prices. It becomes a question whether producers cannot do better elsewhere. With the nearer proximity of the Argentine and its cheap labor,' our quahty was the factor which stuck to us. But Mr Clulee does not confine himself, in his strictures, to meat. He says: "Th's applies not only to meat, but also to cheese, poultry, game, and farm produce of all descriptions." He tells us what is wanted. "The class of meat wanted for the South African market was light sheep and beef, butter in pate of ******* quality and weU graded." Now, although in butter, as in other things, we ax© told by the man who wante to buy, and buy, he says, at a uniform price to suit pro'duoer and middleman, that we stand a eood chance of being shut out of the market. On the other hand, speaking of butter Mr Gow says:-«6ood New Sealand butter comes an easy first in quality, demand, and price." There does not apnear to be much left to bo desired m this: "One, of the best evidences of its position is the attempt mad* to counterfeit its to this matter I have before called attention. Any complaints mad* in con--nection with this matter refer not so much to any twit in the original qnahtv of the article as to the. putting up for the market. X the tongue « the test of good flavor, the appearance of the article has » good deal to do, with unfastening the purVstring.. Y^'^^^SS

but secure and strong." Mr Clutee com- i 81ains of the way the goods are got up. I if other produce he says : — "It was notorious that, as regarded farmers' producepotatoes, onions, and such like — Durban buyers had altogether resolved to leave New Zealand and Australia alone, as they could not depend upon getting what they ordered and what they had a right to expect." Of potatoes, Mr Gow says :— "Although so far the attempts made with New Zealand potatoes have met with disaster, I am of the opinion that there is a good market; but as those who have made the attempt have been rather severely bitten, they are naturally shy." That is the exporters' grievance. Here is the importers , from Mr Clulee's point of view :— "The buyer, when he saw the condition of the goods, refused to take up his drafts, and friction naturally followed. The bankers had then to sell the goods publicly, in the interests of the exporters, and in many instances they were simply sacrificed." Broken cases and improper packing, cleaning and drying, are the charges made against the exporter, but it is not denied that the landing facilities at Durban, and the handlers of the goods, ! are about as bad as they could possibly be As regards tha commercial aspect, although the exporters on this side have been the losers from repudiation, Mr Uulee is reported to say the blame "lay quite as much with the importers as with the exporters." It would require th« utmost good faith at this end to establish a confidence between buyers and sellers that would allow the sales being made on the ordinary c.i.f. basis. It was apparent that if goods turned out different I from those expected by the importers, he | would not continue to pay up his money I iv advance, any more than the exporter would continue to send goods under fear of his drafts l>eing dishonored. The Ar-r.-ntine was not so strict, probably because the even quality of its shipments minimised complaints " We are constantly threatened with this total loss of trade, and w« turn in relief to Mr Gow s expectal:ons for the future, contained in the report:— "l am entering upon my second year with alt energy and determination to make the best of it. As far as one can Judge, though there may be no immediate or speedy leaps and bounds, the worst is over, and we may soon hope to see indications of a brighter sky. Men in prominent commercial positions, even some who were speaking very despondently a few months aeo..ftre adopting a more hopeful tone, and I can only hope tint the anticipations may be fully realised." So far we see nothing to warrant regret that the enterprise was encourajjert. Business relations will adjust themselves between business men.