THE STEEL INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19917, 10 April 1928, Page 7

THE STEEL INDUSTRY.

RECOVERY IN BRITAIN. The British iron and steel industry is steadily recovering, from its post-war depression, in the opinion of Mr. Albert Russell, of Wellington, a director of J. J". Niven and Company, who reached Auckland by the Maunganui yesterday, after a 15-nionths' tour of Britain, the Continent and the United States. Mr. Russell found that the industry was genuinely reorganising, and by the cooperation of employers and workers was putting itself on to an economic basis. Formerly there had been room for criticism on the financial side, but much had been done in the way of eliminating superfluous or out-of-date plant and reducing waste to the minimum. The industry could now meet foreign competition on equal terms. The manufacturers had really "got down to costs," and the quality of their output had not suffered. Apart from America, the most important competitor was Belgium, but although they could offer goods at low prices the Belgian concerns had failed to keep quality up to the British standard.. Germany was not a serious rival, except perhaps in steel rails. Altogether the outlook for British metal manufactures was very bright. AUSTRALIAN BUTTER SUPPLIES. FURTHER GOOD RAINS. Further good rains have fallen in most of the dairying centres in New South Wales, the South Coast particularly having participated in places to the extent of several inches, says the Sydney Morning Herald on April 2. Pastures and stock are in splendid condition. Supplies show the usual seasonal decline. Weather conditions in Victoria continue very favourable for dairying, further good general rains having fallen, and winter feed is assured. In Queensland the weather continues fine, and in some places rain is required to moisten the surface of the ground. Supplies are showing a gradual weekly decrease. VICTORIAN FRUIT MARKET,. -ELIMINATING ' THE MIDDLEMEN. [FROM OtTR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] SYDNEY, £i>ril 5. ■ Cheap fruit seems at last coming within reach of the Melbourne public. For years, in spite of the fact that quantities of fruit are grown in the State, it has been impossible to buy cheap apples or pears in Melbourne. In shops or at street barrows high prices had been charged, and the mystery has always been who benefited "bv them. The growers continually lamented the small prices their fruit brought them, the public incessantly complained about the high charges,' and the middlemen assured everybody that high profits did not come their way. Now the growers have decided to 'deal direct with the public. The idea is that fruit will be sent to special stalls in the city to be retailed to the public at the wholesale prices ruling'in the market. ' The growers will get the same return a case that they now get, and it is confidently expected that they will benefit greatly as a result of the huge demand that will be stimulated. The public will be able to buy case-lots at the market. And to assist them in fretting the cases home—the terrible problem of the past—a special depot will he opened to receive the cases. .Then, after the sale, a carrier will visit the depot and take the fruit direct to the buyers' homes. WORLD'S WHEAT SUPPLY. POSITION IN FEBRUARY. Discussing the international position cf wheat toward the end of February, the Miller, published in London, remarked that developments during the second week of that month had reminded , all those connected with the trade that the deficiency countries have certainly large requirements. On the first appearance of reaction in the world market from its recent lethargy their response was prompt and effective "on the part of both the Continent and the United Kingdom, but especially on the part of the former. Considerable business was done, after which the advances asked both from the Southern Hemisphere and from North America had the effect of checking trading. This was only what might have been expected, for the requirements of deficiency countries are large. On the other hand, says the writerthe trade fullv recognised that the world's supply is that only sufficiently ample to cover all requirements until next harvest, but also to allow of a very considerable carry-over to the next crop. In the face of this there has certainly been no undue eagerness on the part of buyers to commit themselves to any great extent, beyond purchases to cover requirements that are not very distant, and apparentlv there has not been anything in sight that, would cause a serious disturbance of the. market.