COLONIAL PRODUCE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 5490, 9 December 1884, Page 2

COLONIAL PRODUCE.

In our last issue says the New Zealand Trade Review, we noticed the increase in the export from New Zealand of certain article.B of colonial produce. It appears to us, however, that there is still room for a further development of this trade in certain lines to which our farmers &c, might well turn their attention. In tho items of malt, hops, cheese; bacon, and ham , for imtance the local product has not only driven the imported article practically out of the field, but exports of colonial goods to a considerable extent take place. We find however, that our neighbours in Australia still draw largely from Great Britain for some of these articles, and we see no good reason why New Zealand should not supply their requirements in this respect to a larger extent than is afc present thecaße. We learn from Messrs Stables, Straker, and Co.'s circular, that tho export of these commodities for the undermentioned ooloniea during the year .1883, was as follows :—

For the same period the exporte from SSQYf Zealand were as follows :— Malt. Hopa. Cheese. Bacon & Hams. 7,634qrs 3,985cwb 2,5?6cwt 2,041cwt The English shipments for these colonies during the first nine months of 1884 are on a reduced scale as regards hopa and cheese, but in malt, bacon, and hams, they are heavier in proportion than in 1883. If the New Zealand producers of these goods would bring the quality of their wares fully up to the Knglish standard, they oould evidently find good customers for them in the neigh* bouring colonies. Similar remarks might be made as to the local, trade in other branches of colonial manufactures. In candles, for example, we see Hew Zealand goods selling at 7&d to Bd, and the imported article getting the preference over them at 9d to Is per lb ., the difference in prioe being clearly the measure of the difference in quality. With the advantage of an import duty of l£d per lb added to the coat of importing, the locally made article ought to drive the imported one out of the market.

Malt. Hops. Qra. Cwt. Victoria 2,359 952 Sydney 29,630 1,713 Queensland 3,471 140 Adelaide ' 9,522 1,232 Cheese. Bacon Hams. Cwt. Uwt. 178 770 680 3,701 153 1,795 107 994 44,982 4,037 1,118 7,260 New Zealand 132 656 109 108