A LOST TRADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19198, 14 June 1924, Page 17

A LOST TRADE.

AUSTRALIAN WATTLE. CHEAP LABOUR COMPETITION. A REMARKABLE STORY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, June 5. Australia's wattle bark industry once promised to be of world-wide scope and highly lucrative. The product, which, as everybody invaluable for tanning purposes, grows well throughout huge areas, yet io-dav, owing to the differing labour conditions' between ’ the two countries, South Africa, which was originally supplied ■ with the seeds from Australia, actually lands the bark in Sydney and sells it at JEI per ton cheaper 'than the local product. For Australia it is a lost trade. It is an old story of how nearly 30 years ago a large quantity of wattle seed was sent from South Australia to Natal for (id per lb. Since then South African growers have made tremendous headway, and for the 32 months ended March 31 last, the importation of Natal hark into Australia totalled 6121 tons — an average of 510 tons a month. The value fluctuated between .£7 15s to .£8 a ton net, c.i.f., Australian ports. In previous years the importations have been as high as 8000 tons tor the 12 months. Prior to the hist revision of the tariff, flic rate of duty on Natal liar!: was 30a <i ton. It was then increased to £3, which is the present riding rate. Even on the face r,f' this 100 pov cent, increase, the importations arc greater than for the previous season. The Adelaide hills produce the finest quality wattle bark in the world. Natal has practically tho name climatic conditions as South Australia, and although not growing bark of the same high quality it roadies maturity more quickly, and cost of labour (kaffir) is very much cheaper—a- few shillings a (on. The ruling rale for stripping hark in Australia may be anything from ,£3 to ft a ion, and in many cases the growers are prepared to go half shares with the stripper. Men In undertake this work, however, are hard to get at (lie lime when they are wanted, deepitc the army of unemployed, tho great majority - of whom will not leave the city. Another vital factor in connection with this industry is the question of cheap freights. Many of the cargo steamers come from Swedish ports, and diseluu-L'e part cargo at Capetown and Durban, and they are prepared to (111 up their holds willi hark and maize at rates rulin'' from 25a to 30s a ton. Often cheaper rates can lie obtained. The cost of sending hark from Port Adelaide to Sydney is 25s a ion, and to Brisbane porportiouatelv higher. Quotations for {he Smith African product at present are in the region of from £8 Ids to C-8 15s a. ton. net, e.i.f., Australian ports. ('.rowers in the Adelaide hills received for the season just closed praetiealiv an average all-round price of it 10 a ton, delivered at (he hark mills, and hv the time payment lias been made for grinding hags, cartage, wharfages, and freights to the Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane markets, who draw largely upon South Australia for (h'dr -supplies, Adelaide hark is considerably higher in prieo than the imported Naiai article.