COLONIAL PRODUCE IN LONDON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12423, 12 February 1901, Page 4

COLONIAL PRODUCE IN LONDON.

Although Mr Thomas Mackenzie lias never been very definite in his statement of the defects of the present system of distributing- colonial produce sent to London, there is no doubt that his complaints 1 are largely justified. He had exceptionally good opportunities of watching the trade in London from the inside, and his suggestions have, 'therefore, the special value drawn from experience. We have never quits been able to “ place ” Mr Mackenzie in politics, but in the matter of the encouragement of our export trade lie has been a sympathetic critic of the Government, and the address, which he delivered at Lawrence on Saturday night shows that he looks to the State to give even greater assistance to the trade. The Government has, undoubtedly, dons a great deal in the way of placing New Zealand-produce on the London market, both at this end and in Great Britain. It began by making it possible for hundreds of people to become pro/ln/ioin- if-. •fllrVirb in in if. 'ilim’v

queers, it assisted timni to put tneir produce in a marketable form, it provides graders at ibis end and inspectors at the otter, and' it collects and publishes tbe latest statistics concerning the sale of produce at Home. It has nob gone very far afield in the search for lint markets, nor has it rendered very material assistance in the carriage of produce by sea, bub in both jbese- .the pKßS«Sft,xtf- -public^

opinion is sure to move it forward. Mr Mackenzie lias suggested several other directions in which it may help the producer. Apparently he finds fault with the grading of shipments, and it should incut he very difficult to ascertain hew fa-r his criticisms are justified. The question of insurance is not so simple. The average human being is prone to regard insurance companies as animated by an intense regard for their own interests, and they are naturally ready to raise .their rates on the slightest excuse; but the case against theni is net yet complete, and if Mr Mackenzie can show that they are imposing an unduly heavy tax upon the producers and exporters, the Government would be fully justified in stepping in. Now when we have to face the prospect of closed markets in Australia, at least for a period, it is essential that everything possible should be dome to secure new fields for our produce and to facilitate the shipping and distribution. We hope the Government will immediately begin a thorough investigation) of the question, and, if need be, re-organise the whole system of the trade. Mr Mackenzie, we axe sure, would not decline to state the case from his point of view, and in a confidential report to the Department he could give the details which he has suppressed in his public utterances. We are afraid that the impression created by his rather vague generalities has not been as deep as he had hoped, but apart altogether from his little " campaign," the public would welcome the appearance of greater activity on the part of the Government in the encouragement of, our export trade.