The Star. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1901. OUR FOREIGN TRADE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7213, 26 September 1901, Page 2

The Star. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1901. OUR FOREIGN TRADE.

The. statistics submitted by Mr Laurenson to iho lni-.'mibcrs -of thei Houso «rr? Representatives should; prove valuable and instruotive to 'those psc-ple who are! studying the proMem cf the -expansion of Xe-w Zealand trade. Mr Laurenson"? figures were quoted to support tihe oontenit-i-on that, the expert •trad-e of this coJom/y m*us*b be widened. Nobody has even tfooug'flifVf questioning tfhis contention, but. many people 'have long desired to know how this expansion can be effected. Mr Laurenson* -does not actually explain in so many words how this ca.n; bs brought ab:.'ut. Hiis figures, -however, point their owm moral so clearly thait it is mot difficult to fathom* tihe'ir compiler's thoughts. First of all, it is evident that Mr LaurenFio!n 'thinks that 'if New > Zealandi is to- increase her export trade, eh°> must have beitter communication with the outside world,. He pcimts otrfc that Australia has regular line's of- steam* o~mm<unicatic*ni with Manila, China, Japam, South. Africa*, India, Bremen, Marseilles, Dunkirk, Hamburg, Manchester, Hull andi London., bub 'New Zealand communicates only with London. Again, Victoria sends produce in the ?ha.pe* of butter to twenty ports outsid. the United Kingdom, while New Zealand sends to three only. Victoria sends frozen* meat to twelve ports, but nearly all the New Zealand* m_j_t goes to London. Lastly, Vict-qria does business with nineteen* ports cut-side the United Kingdom, New Scu'th* Wales with* seventeen and! New Zealand with* only nine. Assuming that these statistics are correct, the lesson they teach is clear. New Zealand must endeavour ifo keep pace with lier rivals in the produce markets of the world. Wtherei New South Wales grain and) Victorian mea'fc addi bu*tter can find a sale, there also should it be the aim of New Zealand to place her produce. The thing can ba done. All that is required is; the display of a little enterprise, some energy and a small amourJb of foresight. It has been shown that New Zealand) produce ca*n> hold -ts own in point of quality with that of ether lands. No doubt, therefore, the consumars in foreign countees would be glad ito purohase it if they could only obtain it. It must be our first duty to place our produce before them, and, moreover, to offer ib in such an attractive form tilrat dt can be trusted' to obtain a ready sale. The Government is already moving in the direction of opening up fresh markets, but we are nob quite satisfied that it is sincerely enthusiastic about the matter. At -thy best, however, it can move but slowly. But in the aneanitime competition! becomes keener, and now markets ara being exploited by other countries. If New Zeafend does not aCb quickly, she away find herself scone distance behind in the race for commercial supremacy, so far be*hjrjd, -indeed, thait she may discover that the task of making up Iher lost ground 'is more than she can manage. The question of opening up fresh markets js, as we have shown, one of vital importance. It concerns the private individual quite as much as it concerns the Government, and for this reason we hops 1 tha* the Government's efforts will be seconded by ithe • various Chambers of Commerce, and by all the private tra*d*eTS of the colony.