THE COMMERCIAL OUTLOOK

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1611, 14 January 1903, Page 62

THE COMMERCIAL OUTLOOK

INTERESTING INTERVIEW WITH

MR D. R. CALDWELL.

NEW ZEALAND’S PRODUCTS AT

HOME

THE NEED FOR BETTER ADVERTISING.

Mr D. R. Caldwell, of Auckland, well known in mercantile circles as a member of the firm of Maeky, Steen, Caldwell and Co., returned by the Ccrinthic from a xrisit to the Old Country. tie Avent Home principally for the sake of his health, to seek medical advice ; and his friends Avill be glad to learn that as .’ result iris health has materially improved. He is, in fact, looking exceedingly Avell. Mr Caldw’ell had to spend a couple of months in a private hospital in Scotland, a circumstance Avhich interfered considerably Avith his arrangements; and though he had intended to return by the P. and O. line, he AA’as advised to come out by the Corinthic for tho benefit of the longer sea voyage. Before reaching England, Mr CaidAveil spent some time in the United States and Canada. He had read a good deal about Canada, and Avas anxious to study the conditions of life and business in that country for himself. His investigations have aroused in his breast a hearty admiration for the Canadians. “ They are a fine people in every Avay,” be said, speaking to a representative of the “New Zealand Times. “They are excellent in business and social relations, and they have a fine, deep-rooted loyalty which Avould lead them to any sacrifice for the Empire.” He frankly expressed the surprise Avith Avhich he discovered the extent and variety of the manufactures of Canada. That country is far advanced in cotton and clothing manufactories, and in boots, he says, it is running the United States very close. To slioav the excellent standard Avhich boot-making especially has attained. Mr CaldAA’ell mentioned that of several samples of boots from the United States and Canada which he sent out to his firm, the sample which Avas given the preference by the firry’s experts in Auckland Avas from a firm in Quebec. The enterprising Canadians, moreover, ai’e offering evei-y inducement to people in outside markets to buy their goods, said Mr CakVwell. “There is no colony,” he declared, “ Avhich is advertised so well in the outside Avorld as Canada. It is kept continually before tlie public;-and though Lord Strathcona, the High Commissioner in London, is one of the busiest of men, he yet finds time to write letters to the papers advocating emigration to Canada, and to take every opportunity to boom Canadian products.” This led Mr Caldwell to express his opinion that AA r e wanted such a man as Agent-General for New Zealand. His vieiv is that there ought to be a commercial man like Lord Strathcona holding the position, instead of a man xvhose chief bent is tOAA’ard literary pursuits. “We Avant the resources of„the colony continually brought under the notice of the people at Home,” said he. “New Zealand nOAV is not properly advertised in England. We ought to do more than we are doing, for instance, in setting out the advantages of New Zealand as a tourist and health resort. I agree also Avith those who say that the products of NeAV Zealand ought to be more thoroughly advertised in England. Instead of seeing placards in prominent places extolling the merits of our butter or our other products, I never saw a single such notice anyAA’here in England or Scotland. Indeed, the only colonial product I saw advertised in this way AA r as some brand of Australian AA'ines.”

The New Zealand Government, Mr Caldwell suggested, might consider the question of securing a reduction of passenger rates between England and New Zealand, with the view of inducing people of the I'ight sort to come here, just as Canada is attracting people to her shores. He found that the thoughts of intending emigrants at Home were turned, not to New Zealand, hut to Canada and the Argentine. Indeed, he actually met in .London three New

Zealand farmers from Taranaki wh© Avero returning to the colony to sell oufc and go to the Argentine, and this, not because any speculative spirit was strong upon them, but only after they had \risited the Argentine and had closely studied the conditions of business there. “Tho Argentine Avill be the great rival of Ncav Zealand,” ho observed, “and it behoves the Government see that this colony is not left behind in tho race for commercial supremacy, especially in vieAv of the distance of New Zealand from markets.”

At the same time, he found that New Zealand Avas attracting more attention in England uoav than when he Avas Homo ele\ r en years previously, and this circumstance he attributes to the share which Ncav Zealand took in the South African Avar. He found also* that Ncav Zealand AA’as Avell spoken of by tourists who had A’isitcd this country. Their verdict Avas that the climate Avas good, the scenery attftictivc, and the fares and other charges very moderate, and that they invariably met with., civility in the colony. “New Zealand is certainly the cheapest country to tra\ r el in that I have been in,” Avas Mr Caldwell’s own verdict. “If you take Canada, or America, or England, or Scotland, or India, you will find that the charges in New Zealand are lower than in any of those places.”

A good deal of attention is being directed to Ncav Zealand just now in America in consequence of ihe labour legislation of this colony. President Roosevelt himself, n an interviCAV Avhich Mr Caldwell had Avith him in Washington, displayed considerable interest in the legislative experiments Avhich have been conducted in this country. Mr Caldwell’s observations haA’e led him to the conclusion that a big industrial struggle is- imminent in the United States. Labour is organising in that country, and in the immediate future there must bo a trial of strength. Whilst he admires tho Americans for their enterprise and business energy, he would not care to live in America. “ The pace is too- killing,” said he. “ You admire the bustlo and energy, and you imagine that the men Avho are conducting it are active and robust of physique, hut, as one dootor said to me, ‘lf you knew as much as tho doctors know about all this and could see the number of men who como to us Avitli their nerves broken doAvn by the intense strain, you would soon chango your opinion.’ No. I think NeAv Zealand, quiet though Ave may imagine it by contrast, is far preferable.” As to the question of establishing markets in Canada for Now Zealand products, lie does not predict any business in that direction; but in saying this, ho admits that something may ba done in that country Avith New Zealand avool.