Trade with South Africa.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2955, 29 November 1900, Page 4

Trade with South Africa.

(“ Dunedin Star.”)

A meeting of exporters and merchants was held in Dunedin on Tuesday morning for •the purpose of considering the question ot the establishment of direct steamer communication between New Zealand and S ° uti ‘ Africa. Mr T. Brydone presided, and there were also present—Messrs W. E. Reynolds, A C. Begg, A. Todd. G. Roberts, P- Pattullo A Stron-ich, H. Price, C. Morns, T. Thompson, J. Leithbridge, A. S. Paterson J. R. Scott, J. Loudon, H. Harraway, JMills, N. Reid, A. St. G. Ryder A Matheson, J. Angus, J. B. Waters, F. Oldham, and J. Wright. g _ The chairman called on Mr W. E. Rej nolds to state the object of the meeting. Mr Reynolds, after a few introductory remarks, read a quantity of correspondence bearing on the subject. Among the letters was the following from Mr J. P. Newman, manager of the Canterbury Fanners Cooperative Association at Timaxu, which ful.y explained the position: Responding to a deputation who waited upon him in Christchurch last week, the Right Hon. the Premier stated that the Government would be quite willing to do all in their power to assist the inauguration of a direct steam communication between New Zealand and South Africa, provided it could be shown that the farmers and business people were generally in earnest in their desire to open up a fresh market, and were prepared to do all in their power o 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 this end they purpose endeavouring to enlist the support and co-operation of farmers and merchants in South Canterbury without further loss of time. ~ t It is proposed to hold a mass meeting o farmers and all interested in this important question in Timaru on Saturday, Ist December, 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 the other 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, help,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 regular line of 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. 1 shall be glad if you will advise me if you are in sympathy with the suggestions, and whether you will give, your best support to the furtherance of the end we have in view. I am glad to say that the leading business houses here outside the Association have . signified their entire sympathy, and their intention to support us in our endeavour to open up this important trade. Having concluded-the correspondence, Mr Reynolds said that he had seen some mem- '. hers of the Grain Buyers’ Association about * the matter, and they were inclined to do something. He was responsible for calling the meeting. The subject was one that interested not only the grain buyers, but the '■ - Grain Brokers’ Association, and the Agn- : cultural and’ Pastoral Society as well. He had no definite line of action to propose, but • he thought that they should decide at that ‘ meeting what steps were to be taken. ■ • jlr a, S. Paterson said- that it would be very easy to, occupy their time on the subwith which many of them f ®‘ miliar. But the- whole question had been put forward veiy fully in the press; more . so in Canterbury than m Otago. Reference was made to information given by MrEvans, of Timaru, to the papers in the north, ihe general gist of his figures was that there were unusual opportunities for Made with South Africa. The country could take a quantity and variety of the goods which we produced that no other market took They had not really tapped this market T ek The chief difficulty was with regard to freight, as they had to compete with Melbourne, where there were more chances of idle vessels to take the stuff, in addition to which they had a number of direct Rues running from Melbourne to South Africa. All this gave the Victorian merchants a great advantage. Here, in New Zealand, they had no steamer line, and the difficulties in the way of starting a line were so great that there was no course open but to go to the Government. Ihe latter had now shown that they desired to help the movement. He had seen a letter from the Minister of Trade and Commerce, stating that the Government hoped to arrange for a subsidised line before long. What they had now to do was to show that they were in earnest, and that they realised the great possibilities of tins trade. While the suggestion to hold a meeting' was a good one, he doubted if thev could get a satisfactory meeting of farmers during show week. He was theret. Ml tockoß p.t.t.on, He would move —“ That this meeting of representatives of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society, Gram Buyers Associa tion, Grain Brokers’ Association, and National Dairy. Association resolve that it is desirous that a petition be drawn up and left open for signature during the show, and throughout the country, pointing out to the Government the advisability of a subsidised steamer service being established between New Zealand a-nd *-outn Mr J. B. Waters seconded the motion. The Government were willing to assist, and as the resolution would strengther the hands of the Government he hopec they would all support it. Mr A. St. G. Ryder thought the motion went to the kernel of the question. The Government wanted an expression o. opinion from those most concerned—the Arming community-and the petition would

attain that object. He'would have liked, however, to also see a meeting of farmers to discuss tha question. ■ , , The chairman thought there would he a difficulty about getting a meeting offariners. They knew how careless ; farmers were on these matters at all. times, bu more especially at show time, when they would be busy looking at the stock. _ Mr W. E. Reynolds said the public I did not appear to appreciate how great was the trade that could be done with South Africa. Australia was becoming more self-supporting every year, and more especially if the Commonwealth put on a duty against this colony, our exports u that direction would decrease year by year, and we would be compelled to look to other countries for markets. If they allowed America t: get toe saong a hold in South Africa their chance would be lost. He thought that before going any further they should be assured that everyone would support the matter heartily. Mr J. Mills said that the company which he represented had been watching the mat-) ter very carefully for some _ time past, first with a desire to take it up as. a legitimate expansion of their business, and secondly ms a means of benefiting the colony, in which they were so largely interested. They had, however, to approach the subject with caution, as they could not at present hope to compete with success with firms in Australia. It must not be forgotten that the voyage from New Zealand to the Cape and back occupied from two to three weeks longer than irom Melbourne, and to that extent freights must naturally be higher, unless they were assisted by the Government. Another point was that if his company undertook the trade—which they were anxious and had serious intentions of doing—they would be further handicapped _by the j higher labour rates ruling in this colony, j The cost of manning a moderate-sized vessel from this colony would exceed that of a Home vessel by some £2OOO a year. The extra distance, high cost of coal here, or the detour to get it in Australia, and the higher wages were all serious drawbacks. Another consideration was that the exports in the past had been controlled mninly by Melbourne buyers. If the trade continued, however, it would be more in the hands of New Zealand buyers, and would be more distributed. It would be some years before South Africa could be self-supporting, and it was only right that they should endeavour to make as much as possible during the time when the market was open to them. The motion was then put and carried.