DIRECT TRADE WITH SOUTH AFRICA. MEETING OF THOSE INTERESTED.

Otago Witness, 5 December 1900, Page 7

DIRECT TRADE WITH SOUTH AFRICA. MEETING OF THOSE INTERESTED.

A meeting was held in the board room of 'the Agricultural Hall on the 27th inst., to consider the question of establishing direct steamship communication with South Africa, as an additional outlet for New Zealand produce. Mr Thos. Bryclone was voted to the chair, and the following gentlemen, representing the Otagc A. and P. Society, the $jrjun Brokers' Afigooiatioa, and the Grain

Bxxyers' Association, were present : — Messrs J. Angus, "W. E. Reynolds, J. Lethbridge, Jas. Mills, J. R. Scott, J. Wright, A. Ryder, H. Harraway, A. Matheson, J". Loudon, J. Waters, A. 0. Begg, G. Roberts, H. Price, 0. Morris, A. Todd, A. C. Stronach, J. Pattuilo, D. Reid, T. H. Thomson, and F. M. Oldham. The Chairman said that the meeting had been convened by Mr Reynolds, so he" would ask that gentleman to explain why it had been called. Mr Reynolds said that for some time past j there had been ideas of approaching the Go- j vernment in the direction of subsidising direct steamer communication with South Africa. He had received a . circular on the subject from the Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Association, which he would read to The meeting. The following was the circular : — Timaru, November 22, 1900. Dear Sir, — South African markets for New Zealand produce. — The Right Honourable the Premier having stated thai the Government would be prepared to assist in the establishment of a dnect steamer service between New Zealand and South Africa provided that they have the support and approval of the country behind them, it is proposed to hold a mass meeting of farmers and all interested in the development of riie produce export trade, on Saturday, Ist December, in the Assembly Rooms, Timaru, at 2 p.m., for the purpose of obta,ming an expression of opinion from the farmers on this most important subject. My directors feel that no time should be lost in making an endeavour to satisfy the Government that the farming- community are desirous of seeing no effort lost in at once taking .step,: to establish direct communication. I trust you. will make a special effort to be present at this meeting and assist the association and all other firms' interested in asking the co-opera-tion of the Government to open up fresh oxii.lets for our giain and produce. Meetings will be held on the same day at other places in the colony to strive to attain this end, and we ask the. support of the farmers generally by attending this meeting. — Yours faithfully, J. P. Newman, Manager. Timaru, New Zealand, November 21, ]900. Messrs W. E. Reynolds and Co.. Dunedin. — "Dear Sirs, — Re piospective market in Soixth Africa for New Zealand produce. — Responding to a deputation who waited upon him in Chris tohurch. last week, the Right Honourable the Premier stated that the Government would be quitt-Tvilling to do all in their power to assist the inauguration of a direct steam communication between New Zeala.id and South Africa, provided that it could be shown that the farmers and business people were generally in carnesl in thek desire to open up a fresh market, and were prepared to do all in their power to support measures that might be introduced to further this end. My directors feel that no time should be lost in making a strenuous endeavour to obtain a share of the undoubtedly favourable markets that are available in South Africa, and to thid end they purpose endeavouring to enlist the support and co-operation of farmers and merchants in South Canterbury without further loss of time. It is proposed to hold a mass meeting of farmers and all interested in this important question in Timaiu on Saturday, Ist December, prox., and with a view of making the question one of general interest to farmers throughout New Zealand it has been suggested that an endeavour should be made to hold similar meetings in oilier important centres on the same day, so that the Government may have an opportunity of judging as to the amount of general interest displayed and the probable support that may be looked for throughout the principal centres. I should be glad, therefore, if you approve of the suggestion, to know if you will, as far as you possibly can, lielp to bring about such a meeting in your city, and endeavour to get as hearty and widespread support from the farmers in your district as you possibly can. Our intention, here, is to get all the signatures possible to a general petition to the Government to assist in the inception of a direct steam communication by giving a subsidy to a lino of regular steamers to initiate this trade. May I suggest that you confer with the various produce firms •in your city, and arrange for a public meeting, to be held on the same day as we hold ours here, at which press representatives be asked to attend. I shall be glad af you will advise me if you are in sympathy with the suggestions and whether you will give your best support to the further- ' ance of the end we have in view. I aan glad to say that the leading business houses here, outside this association, have signified their entire sympathy and their intention to siipport us in our endeavour to open up this important trade. I purpose calling the meeting in Timaru by circular to farmers, and also by newspaper advertisements. Trusting to be favoured with an early reply. — I remain, yours faithfully, J. P. Newman. Continuing, Mr Reynolds said that the grain Brokers' Association were in favour of doing something in the matter, and in addition he had received the following letter from the Otago Farmers' Co-operative Association at Timaru. It was also a matter worthy of the support of the A. and P. Society. He had no definite proposition to lay before the meeting, but thought it highly desirable that they should express an opinion on the question. Mr A. S. Paterson said that it would be easy to occupy time speaking on the subject, which was one that many of them had thought a good deal about. He thought the whole question had been dealt with very fully in the press, and perhapsjnore fully in Canterbury news-papers than in Otago. A gentleman present had a copy of a letter from Mr William Evans that appeared in a Pitnaru paper, which dealt very forcibly with the possibilities of trade with South Africa. He would not weary those present to hear his figures ; but the gist of the letter was that there was an exceptional opportunity for opening up trade with_ South Africa. In that country they would take a variety of our products that no other country could take. Practically New Zealand had not tapped that market at all. Any beginning we had tried to make was met by the freight difficulty. We had to compete chiefly with' Melbourne, which was a port where there could often be found numbers of unemployed steamers, as well as several lines trading direct with South Africa. Our steamers 'all came here for cargo, and it was a troublesome thing to initiate a new service. It would be necessary to ask- the Government for some measure of sunport. What they were asked to do by the Canterbury people was to lift up their voice to help the movement, and to let the Government see that there was a demand on the part of the mercantile community for better opportunities of trade with South Africa. The Timaru people were taking, in his opinion, the best step. They -were going to have a meeting of farmers and .sign a petition to the Government on the matter. His own feelings were against having a meeting of farmers in show week, as it was a difficult thing to get them together. He was inclined to fall back on the idea of the petition, and he would move — " That this meeting, representing the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society, the Grain Brokers' Association, the Grain Buyers' Association, and the National Dairy Association, considers it desirable that a petition should be drawn up for signature on the show ground and throughout the country* asking the fa,-

vourable consideration of the Government to the establishing oE a steamer service between New Zealand and South African ports." Mr J. Waters seconded the motion. In doing &o he said that until they solved the problem of getting direct steamer communication it was not much use troubling about getting trade with South Africa. They ought to strengthen the hands of the Government by passing- the resolution, and h^ hoped everyone present would give it their heartiest support. Mr Ryder supported the motion, but thought they ought to follow the suggestiou of the Timaru Association, and call a meeting as well. The Chairman was of the opinion that it would be very difficult to get a meeting of farmers at show time. ° Mr Reynolds said that he dirl not think ,the general public fully pppreciated the voltfme of trade to be done or the necessity for it. When federation took place in Australia it would certainly affect the trade between New Zealand and the Australian colonies. Australia was becoming- more self-supporting every year. If we were going to lose part of the Australian trade, it behoved everybody to look very carefully to what other country our products could be exported. If we allowed America to get a stronghold in South Africa we would be the losers. Before they went any further they should be assured that everybody present was prepared to support the matter right through. Mr J. R. Scott suggested that petitions on similar lines to Lhat which the meeting proposed to get up should be requested from all the farmers' clubs in the province. Mr James Mills, speaking on the question of freight, -said that the company he represented had been watching the South African trade very closely from its inception before the war, with the desire to take it up as the legitimate expansion of their business as well as to develop the resources of the colony. They felt that the matter had to be approached with caution for many reasons. They could not compete successfully with those already engaged in the trade, because, a= Mr Paterson had pointed oiit, Vessels in Melbourne were the 1 xore readily obtainable. They came there with cargoes, and in the desire to obtain return cargoes they would cut down the freights. Further, the voyage from New Zealand entailed a fortnight's extra steaming, and a "vessel would have to return via Newcastle for coal. If she was to go direct and back she would have to buy dearer coal in New Zealand, which made things pretty equal. Freights from New Zealand would thus need to be higher, or the company, to be compensated by assistance from the Government. He was referring to foreign or Eng-lish-owned steamers. If the Union Company undertook the trade, as they had serious intentions of doing if circumstances justified it, they would be further handicapped by having to employ labour at a higher rate. The cost of working a steamer with a colonial crew would be £2000 a year more than with an English crew. These questions really marked the difference between vessels trading from Australia and from New Zealand. They had besn deterred from going into the trade last 3 r ear, partly because it was a difficult matter to obtain ships. He believed personally thai a good trade could be done with the Cape during the next few years, and it certainly would be many years before South Africa was self-supporting. The motion was then put and carried, and Messrs Paterson, Todd, Reynolds, Waters, and Oldham were appointed a committee to arrange matters. The meeting then terminated, with the usual compliment to the chair. The following is a copy of a petition which was open for signature at the A. and P. Society's show and other places last week— To the Eight Hon. the Premier, and other members of the Ministry, the petition of the iindersigned residents in Otago and Southland, being farmers, merchants, and others interested in the export trade of the colony, sheweth as follows : — . 1. There is a large market available m South Africa for all New Zealand foodstuffs, such as, in particular frozen meat, dairy produce, oats, and other grain, flour, and tinned meats. 2. The difficulties in the way of providing freight to Sorith Africa (especially for refrigerated produce) have proved so great as io place New Zealand at a serious disadvantage compared with Australia in respect of freight facilities, and profitable business is thus being lost. 3. The present and prospective conditions of New Zealand trade render it absolutely necessary that new markets skotild be opened up for our pioduce. 4. In your petitioners' opinion the only effective mode by which trade with South Africa can be sectired for New Zealand is by establishing a direct line of steamers sailing periodically between New Zealand and South African ports. 5. In. order to establish such a service Government assistance for a time will be absolutely essential. 6. Your petitioners are assured, from inquiries which have been made, that in a few years such, a service, if established, would become self-supporting, and so relieve the Government from the necessity of further assisting it. 7. In your petitioners' opinion prompt action in regard to the foregoing is of the titmost importance. Your petitioners therefore pray that you will be pleased to take this petition into consideration and adopt means, by subsidy or otherwise, as shall be effective in establishing a line of steamers as suggested: and your petitioners will every pray, etc.