SIR JOSEPH WARD

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1732, 10 May 1905, Page 17

SIR JOSEPH WARD

RETURN FROM AUSTRALIA.

THE RECIPROCAL TRADE

CAMPAIGN.

PROSPERITY OP AUSTRALIA. Sir Joseph Ward has just returned from his visit to Auauain, «iiu ni anoiitier part or tiiis isaiw >» e a report, or an HKtuViow gran Loci to a "iuuw' In mo courtc or uu;=. „ovepn toilCiles on one (|Ucauoii ui iOoiyivnal trade., to iv.incii no maje jo.-a'aiiuu m fsoiiio or ins ••spceeiiv.-s in uj uidcj 1 . riiiij, wnen re paying ro o,re Ui lliS liea-iDii, pi vxpo.aea oy wo rux a -u.iyoi ac tiio TuAvn mil. banquet. u. mo Visil-ou from i\ew /.eaiauu, &n »»a.a Sam 110 IVOIIiU in».t3 to a.m — .. a'y not tlie Statesmen 01 aua.raa<* recognise Xliae r\e\v s worts <t .bullish colli lUU ill 13% ule saii 10 natural seminwiiv as. .i.t..iwivt i i, uuu reciprocate F -tic ponitvsi out that .New had on u« statute bu-oiv a 1U per cent, pre.eienoo «ts ..gaiim i oreign nations, aiHl me reniniued. 111.1 liearers that if tlioy wan.eu. to bund up i\ great trade net ween cue Australian continent' anti wo on tiiis side of tire Xasuian teea were prepared to respond m r.s -ue/e.oplnont. It is, we cons.dor, periectry feasible to frame a reo.promt Ui lii that should encourage made between t his country ana me Coinmonn e.utii, without injuring jury ioeur .merest or contravening t-iie lineal p. hey of New Zealand or Australia; and it may be hoped that the seed sown by Sir Joseph Ward’s suggestion will bear fruit in the near future. Among the helpful and tactful things said by Sir Joseph Word in Sydney, fho most notable was his reference to the many statements he had heard during his visit that the people of Australia were dissatisfied with the federal union consummated four years ago and would undo it if they could. He said he believed that it was one of the finest things the people of Australia had done in farming themselves into one federated community, even though they had temporary difficulties to overcome. If they expected Co have a national life and sentiment in Australia without these initial difficulties they were expecting what was impossible. For the time being there must he a great amount of difficulty and a certain amount of friction, which only the of the people could overcome. Every class in the community ought to recognise that they were gomg to be a great and powerful nation in the future and should not talk about the dissolution of the CommomveaiLh. These sentiments were warmly app.auded anu formed the subject of flattering comment by the "Sydney Moa nmg rrerald.” In another of liis adcireSiCo Sir Joseph Ward dealt at length u Ah tile subject- of mail communication and rates: and m yet another he supplied a vast amount of inlorma'-ion eonceining this country’s progress. It is pleasing to learn from bn Joseph Ward ot the present prosperous condition of Australia and its excellent prospects for the future. In the great pastoral State of New South Wales the recovery from the drought has been vapid the depleted flocks and herds have again multiplied, and the favourable seasons have reacted on every department of trade. The live stock statistics to 31st December last show that the number of shc-ep 111 hew South Wales increased during the year by 5 182.070, and the total then stood at 28 bothsol. At the same date the cattle State numbered 1,687,901, an increase during the year of 180,814. Durin«- the two years that have elapsed since the break-up of the drought the number of sheep in New South dales has increased by nearly e ght millions. In con sequence a large increase in the export of wool has been reported Messrs Dal get y and C'o., Limited, statin" the exports from Australia from July Ist. 1904, to March 31st, 1905, at 1,133,372 bales, against 823,249 bales for the corresponding period of 1903-4, an increase ' of 210,123 bales being shown. The butter exports of Australia have also grown rapidly. Since July Ist, ITKM, about 22,200 tons have been shipped from Australian ports to London, against about 18,500 tons for the corresponding period of 1903-4 and a little over 1000 tons for the corresponding period of 1902-3. In addition, largo quantities have been shipped to South Africa. Although in these articles of export Australia is our competitor, New Zealanders have nothing but congratulations to offer to the people of the Commonwealth on their growing prosperity Sir Joseph Ward during his visit conveyed to the Australians the friendly sentiments of the people of this country, and we feel assured that good will result from such friendly intercourse. The fact that New Zealand has not joined the Federation, and is not likely to doi so, ought uofc to prevent tho of tno closest, and most amicable relations between this country and Australia. The destinies of Austral lands are inextricably joined, their interests and aims are identical; and Sir Joseph

Ward has done excellent service by emphasising these facts and impressing upon the people oi the Commonwealth the desirableness of cultivating closer commercial relations with New Zealand.

V» hen Sir Joseph Ward left for Australia more than six weeks ago it was witli the intention of enjoying a wellearned holiday, and laying politics and departmental business entirely aside. sis programme lie carried out strictly. Speaking to a ‘‘Times” reporter at a. late hour last evening, Sir Joseph said: "Wo had .a very peasant stay in Tasmania and al-.o in Melbourne and Sydney. Tho only New Zealand papers I have read wore on the boat coming over, so I have been quite out of touch with what has been going on in our own country. That is tho me evidence that I have been enjoying a holiday. As a visitor to Australia I avoided discussing political mu ers at all.”

Seiji Sr Joseph was not able to travel entirely incognito, and as the cabio news has indiea.ed, ho took advantage of the opportunity afforded to say a word or two on the suggested reciprocal trade between Australia and „vew Zealand. TEaDE RECIPROCITY. Asked whether this proposal was for a general reciprocity, or open door between the conn.rics, &ir Joseph said: .0, it, was in the lme of some of our natural products. There are some mugs which it would not be satisfactory lor either country to admit free, but there are a good many things which it would be advantageous for ,iO L h to admit. Under tho Preferential and Reciprocal Trade Act, 1903, there s an impost of 10 per cent, on products and manufactures uom outside

.10 British Empire. A great number of the leading men, both m business and po.iiics, are favourable to some- . ang more being done on thero lines, blit it is very doubtful whether any- • ling can be done immediately concerning it. If it can bo brought about r think there is a big advantage to be gained. There is already a large trade between the countries, and I think if we can bring about a reciprocal, or preference treaty, if you like to call , t . such, it would widen the avenues of trade and in my opinion would be oeiiiciiciai to both countries. The mere markets we can get the greater chance there is lor obtaining better prices 111 existing markets. In other words, if you are able to prevent sending an over-supp.y to existing markets by spreading it over a wider area yon stand a chance of enjoying a higher range of prices, and the producer benefits. But apart altogether from these advantages, there are some articles in tho two countries against j introduction of which the respective tariffs operate, and in respect to which' a reciprocal treaty m.ght bo arranged which would not interfere in ,ho slightest with, the protection of Local industries. That is a course which vii.Kii, boL.h countries .silioiilct \v oik To-i —to he In their local industries with tariffs as" they do now and at the same time to se.ect articles which could be admitted free into both countries without injury under a reciprocal treaty.” AUSTRALIAN PROSPERITY. Sir Joseph considers that Australia is at nresent iock.ng very well indeed, and ilie people as a whole are m much, heater heart, than they had been for some time. In many parts of the country there have been good rains, and most of the people with whom Sir Joseph conversed hold the opinion, which lie himself isharos, that Australia is in fox very prosperous times. THE TRADE OF NEWCASTLE.

By the kindness of the harbour authorities at Newcastle, Sir Joseph was shown all over the harbour works, and inspected the facilities for the discharge and loading of coal The chief difficulty the harbour authorities have suffered from is the limited land area for the working of the coal waggons from the mines, but they have carried out a considerable amount of reclamation and erected some very fine wharves, which they are about to extend considerably. “ I had been there before on several occasions,” said Sir Joseph, “ and there is no doubt that it is a great port. Tire shipping trade is connected almost entirely with coal, and to some extent with timber, and is very large indeed. When I was there there were said to lie fifty-four sailing ships discharging ballast and waiting their turn to take in cargoes of coal for all parts of the world. Though this is undoubtedly a large number of ships to be waiting at a time, some of the mines are working short time at present, and I was told there was a slackness, which, I hope, will prove to be only temporary.” THE TOURIST TRAFFIC. Asked whether there was any intention of opening a branch of the Tourist Department in Sydney, Sir Joseph said the matter had been talked about, but nothing definite had been decided. The fact was, as lie had replied to the many inquirers on the subject, that there was no Parliamentary vote for establishing tourist offices outside the colony. Sydney would, he considered, be one of the finest and most

profitable places to establish a depot, because great numbers of people converge there by steamers from all parts of the world. The Australian Governments are now beginning to pay attention themselves to the possibilit.es of the traffic, and discussing the propriety of establishing tourist offices on similar lines to- those in New Zealand. There are private tourist associations in New South Wales, which, it is understood, tho Government is supporting. in New South Wales there are some very fino scenic spots, which are visited by large numbers of people, and with organisation they could be greatly improved. '■ The more improvements they make to encourage the traveling class to come from all over the world to see their sights, the better I consider it is for New Zealand, as a percentage of the people who go to that country always come to New Zealand also to complete their journey of inspection. Tourists cannot visit either country without, spending money and doing good. I find that New Zealand is very well known indeed wherever I went.” THE MAIL SERVICES.

The position as regards tho mail services was thus stated :—“The San Francisco service, of course, we have running under contract, and the House was informed that we were endeavouring to arrange for the Vancouver service to touch at New Zealand as well. An initial vote for this contract was taken, the limit being lived at £20,000. The contract w : th the Federal Government for tho Vancouver service expired some time ago, and we were informed that the Queensland Government was agreeable to drop Brisbane out as a port of call. What we have been trying to do is to get the service to come on to New Zealand under a new contract as between Canada, the Federal Government, and New Zealand. The position at nresent is that a temporary renewal for a short period has been made by the Federal Government, still including Brisbane as a port of call. The service could not as a mail service call at both Brisbane and New Zealand, since it would be made so long as to des'troy its effectiveness. I understand the renewal is only for a few months, really to enable the negotiations to be carried to completion between tho Canadian and Federal Governments and the Union Steam Ship Company. I am quite satisfied it would be a. good thing for our colony to have both the San Francisco and tho Vancouver steamers touching at some of its ports. There is an increasing trade by both, and in our insular position we want to be as much in touch with other countries as possible. Australia' lias a fino service witli the P. and 0., the Orient, and other lines of steamers running regularly to the Old Country.” In conclusion, Sir Joseph said he found everywhere in Australia a very kindly feeling towards New Zealand, the country and its people being very well spoken of.