ISLANDS TRADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14355, 27 October 1908, Page 8

ISLANDS TRADE.

— o - AUCKLAND APATHY CONDEMNED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, October 26. New Zealand's.' apathy, and particularly Auckland's apathy, in regard to the South Sea Islands trade comes in for some trenchant criticism fretiiiiTongau business man, who has a letter occupying a column and a-half of tho Herald 'this mornin". In the course of his letter he say/: "During 1906 wo imported goods from foreign countries to the value of £79,363, New Zealand furnishing £41,248, Australia £25,919, Germany £7211, Britain America, and other countries supplying the balance amongst, them. The year ended December 31, 1907, show.s an' increase in our imports, the figures beiii' £97.820, of which sum New Zealand accounts for £42.969, Australia £36,570, and Germany £11,046. Comparing these two years I find that although Australia and Germany increased their trade with us to the extent of 40 per cent, and 53 per cent, respectively, New Zealand or.'ly shows a 4£ per cent, increase. On the face, of the figures even tho man in the street will declare offhand that there must he something wrong somewhere to account for the small proportion of the increase, that went New Zealand's way. If your exporters have not askad themselves why this has been allowed, then already you havo ono of tho reasons of the drift— apathy,—and my contention is that this is the main factor and cause of tho trouble. There is an'old saying in Auckland amongst island merchants (and mayhap in Australia also) that anything will do for the islands. Well, you Auckland merchants who arc grumbling at lis sending our orders to Australia and Europe, anything won't do for tho islands nowa-' days. Any .quality won't do for the islands, or any price either. Tho islands merchant knows the raluo of trade lines just as 'well, and often better, than tho colonial supplier. If New Zealand .could not buy her goods as cheaply as Australia does on the European and American markets there might be some excuse for the differences between Auckland and Sydney prices, but in Europe a New Zealander's .money is just as welcome as an Australian's, and the Home markets are open to all comers. The differences in freights cannot be advanced as an excuse •or New Zealand's high prices, as'any increase you may have to pay to the shipping companies for bringing 'your supplies from Home, compared to rates paid by Australian merchants when worked out on values, would only amount to an increased landed cost of at most 1£ per cent, The espenses of running the distributing stores in Australia are as hWi, if not higher, than in New Zealand, °so again your merchant cannot blame high rents, salaries to employees, rates, etc. for his famine prices. Now, if your merchant can Land his goods at .is low a figure as tho Sydney merchant, and there is an open market at both places for the sale of these goods, trusts and combines king practically unknown on this side, the only' reasons I can advance for the differences between Auckland and Sydney prices are first and foremost apathy on the part of tho merchant, and a don't sort of care style in all his business transactions, and, secondly, greed. He wants to get rich in a burn-, and when doing business with a customer the only thing he thinks is to squeeze the last farthing out of him, never remembering for a moment, or taking into consideration that the customer will bo on the market again in a few months,- and will look for some house where he will be treated as a prospective customer for the future, and not only for the moment, and whore he. will get prices not necessarily cut to a decimal, but based on a fair margin of profit."