NEW ZEALAND DAIRY PRODUCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12696, 30 December 1901, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND DAIRY PRODUCE.

EFFECT OF THE FEDERAL TARIFF,

TRADE WITH SOUTH AFRICA. [Frok Ot'R Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Dec. 29,

Mr McEwa.ii, who has. beea making enquiries in Australia, whence he returned here on Friday, gave his views to a representative of the " New Zealand Times " yesterday morning. He said that the Australian 'dairy produce trade is lost to New Zealand. He had not met a man in Australia who considered that there was any possibility Of the Commonwealth, importing New Zealand dairy produce. Dealers might buy it to place on an outside market, but never for local consumption. Under existing conditions the impression given was that New Zealand producers must look to other markets. The new tariff, especially in regard to dairy produce, as absolutely prohibitive. The opinion was freely expressed by the largest Australian importers of New Zealand butter in previous years that the conditions would require to be very exceptional, so far as the local supply'was concerned: before Australians would ha ready to pay 3d a pound duty for New Zealand makes. If prices for local supplies advanced sharply it would, of course, lead to buying in New Zealand to fulfil outside orders, and this would he represented by transhipments in bond for South Africa and the East. Speaking of cheese, for the supply of which it was considered Australia would always have to rely on New Zealand, Mr McEwan. shows that there lias been remarkable progress made by the Australian dairymen. He says that the tariff has given such an impetus to cheese manufacture, that last week the Sydney cheese j market was, strange to relate, dull, on account of the heavy stocks from Queensland and Victoria. The quality of this cheesi; would never, of course, Mr McEwan I>2lieves, be equal to the best New. Zealand, but he points out that the consumer will not pay an advance of 3d to secure a slight.superiority in quality. Mr McEwan. had an opportunity of "boring" some of the cheese. He found the Victorian to be the best. A large proportion, however, was anything but fine. Since his tour in Australia, Mr McEwain is more than ever concerned and indignant withal at the gre.it opportunity in South Africa which is being lost by New Zealandera Under the present shipping arrangements, the risk is greater, he points out, than any business-man. is justified in taking. i§To enter into contracts with no assurance that the goods will be shipped makes satisfactory business impossible. The | | risk is greater than the profits justify. In Australia, Mr McEwan realised as he was never able to realise in this colony, the great business possibilities of the Cape. trade. To understand the fine steamship service which exists, to see the volume of business being done and the prices realised, has given him a good idea of what i» being done by the Australians, and has enabled him to realise what this colony is losing by her present ineptitude. It was positively heart-breaking, he said, to see the position in which Australian traders were standing in regard to the great African market, while New Zealand, which could offer a better article, was practically shut out from competition by the inability of her producers to send their produce. In reply to a question as to what he considered the best sen-ice to Africa, the direct line or via Australia), Mr McEwan said that at present the best way of sending dairy produce would be via Melbourne or° Sydney. It was only by that means that a regular and frequent service could be secured. ' Of course, as far as the condition of the goods was concerned, the direct service would be preferable, but in catering for any market regularity of supply is of paramount importance to that of quality. As to cool storage in Sou tin Africa, Mr McEwan thinks that might well bs left to the people at the other end. What we want is to get our produce to the market regularly and. expeditiously ; the buyers will book the orders, arrange storage and do the rest. Mr McEwan remarked on the present state of the. London butter market, and cited it as a reason why New Zealand ports should be made to capture some of the South African trad©. Only yesterday he-received a cable from ibis London agents which stated that there was a • decline of from 3s to 5s for the shipment immediately prior to Christmas—just the period, when prices have generally been at their highest.