GERMAN TRADE WITH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3783, 4 July 1899, Page 5

GERMAN TRADE WITH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

The outcry against goods ‘'made in Germany” lias "pot yet been raised in these colonies, and there is little likelihood that it. ever will be heard. Despite the efforts ol the advocates of preferential treatment of British goods, the people of Australasia display a combination of cosmopolitanism and common sense by impartially taxing goods, no matter from what country they may conic. From figures supplied to us from the Gorman Consulate at Auckland, it would appear that Germany is a most, profitable customer tc these colonies. I ho returns for 1897 show that the total value of German goods exported direct to Australasia in that year was £1,564,—roughly, a million and a half sterling—while the German Empire took from these colonies during the same period goods to the value of £4,283,650, or about three times more than sho sent in exchange. In other words, there was on the .year’s transactions a cash balance in favour of Australasia of over two and a quarter millions sterling. Or, if we assume a profit of ten per cent, on the total trade, Australasia made £128,000 out of her exports to Germany, while the latter country made only -CiOO.OOO-ot'it of her exports to these colonies. Ex-

amining tho figures in detail, we find that wool was the principal article taken by Germany—its value for 1897 being given at £3,420,950. Next in order of value came ores and precious metals, £178,000; hides and skins, £115,150; tallow, £69,800; the balance, in smaller sums, being made up of copper, tin, precious stones, timber, gum', leather and agricultural produce. Tile goods received in exchange from Germany consisted mainly of manufactured articles. Thus, iron and ironware were represented by a sum of £858,000; instruments and machinery by £287,650; cotton goods. £112,100; smaller imports including •sugar, beer, drugs and chemicals, woollen goods, fancy goods, glass, feather, paper, earthen and wood wares. It would thus seem that the trade with Germany consists of useful interchange—our raw products being taken in exchange for manufactured goods that do not compete with local industry in any way. These figures do not, of course, represent the total trade that is done between Australasia and Germany; for a large quantity of German, goods comes to these colonies by way of England, and these are set down as British goods/ Similarly, no doubt, German buyers obtain large quantities of New Zealand and Australian wool, frozen meat, etc., by. purchasing in the English markets. ■ It would, in the circumstances, bo extremely foolish wore the colonies to, make tariff changes that might cause Germany, in retaliation, to shut out Australasian products, unless the Imperial Government has something substantial to offer by way of compensation; and so far there has been no indication of even remote benefit accruing to the colonies from giving preference to British manufactures.