AUSTRALIAN TRADE.

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 11967, 21 June 1907, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN TRADE.

r Received June 20, 11.25 p.m. Sydney, June 20. A deputation urged upon Mr Oarruthers the growing trade jwith the East and tbe necessity for providing for improved communication. It also protested against the interference on the part of Victoria by mean 9of subsidised Melbourneowned steamers, whereby tbe preference given to Victorian merchants wag a detriment to those of the other States, and pointed out that after Messrs Burns, Pbilps, and Adelaide exporters had gone to a large amount of trouble in developing trade with Singapore and Java, Victoria proposed to step in and take^it. The deputation asked the New South Wales Government to see and use its influence to see that no subsidy was paid by Victoria.or that the Governmen should subsidise the present New South Wales Service, and thus equalise matters. Mr Oarruthers considered Victoria's action unconstitutional. The Commonwealth ought to deal with tbe matter, that was, if the Commonwealth Government was not under tk« thumb of Victoria, which he believed it was. He was not built of tb« stuff that would let matters go as Victoria expected. It would, h* thought, be a fair thing for the Government to equip or subsidise a line of steamers similar to Victoria. If they want to fight We will give them a fijfht. At the same time, if Victoria will agree to fair terms he was willing. Aa regards tbe trade to the East we ought certainly ts be the pioneers in its development. The Premier of Queensland wa9 at one witif binvon that question, and he believed that Sir J. Ward would also show a similar attitude.