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1905. NEW ZEALAND.

INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE REPORT (22nd August, 1905). BY THE MINISTER OF INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE, HON. SIR J. G. WARD. K.C.M.G.

Presented to both Homes of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Department of Industries and Commerce, Wellington, 22nd August 1905 My Lord,— I have the honour to submit to Your Excellency the report of the Department of Industries and Commerce for the year ending the 31st March, 1905. I have, &c, J. G. Ward, Minister of Industries and Commerce. His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand. In presenting this my fourth annual statement I have great pleasure in intimating that the Department continues to do good and useful work. The policy of keeping the products of the colony prominently before the consuming markets of the world is being steadily followed, and during the past year with particularly good results. Advantage was taken of the opportunities offered by the St. Louis Exposition held at St. Louis, U.S.A., the Colonial Products Exhibition held at Liverpool, and the Indian and Colonial Exhibition held at the Crystal Palace, London. At all three of these exhibitions very fine displays of the products of the colony were made, and in each instance with the best of results. Eefernng to the two English Exhibitions, I beg to draw attention to the reports, which state that New Zealand's displays at these Exhibitions were much more complete and attractive than that of any other of His Majesty's colonies. This is a subject for congratulation, and speaks well for the energy and resource of the responsible officers of the Department. The illustrations attached hereto will give some idea of the complete and thorough manner in which the representation of the colony was effected at the Colonial Products Exhibition, Liverpool, and the Indian and Colonial Exhibition, Crystal Palace, London, and when referring to the subject of these Exhibitions I should like to record that the suggestion to exhibit at these opportunities emanated from the Wellington Office of the Department, which collected and despatched the exhibits and generally directed the representation made. In carrying out the policy of keeping the products of the colony prominently before the consuming markets, special attention is being paid to the supplying of all manner of commercial information relative to the resources of the colony, and further in the interests of producers regular and reliable market reports from the United Kingdom and South Africa are obtained and circulated throughout the colony. The question of oversea transport of the produce of the colony is a matter which is continually being kept in view by the Department, and on this subject I have to make some important observations. There can be no doubt that in a producing country such as New Zealand undoubtedly is, the question of transport of produce to the different markets is of paramount importance, and I have in my previous reports made a reference to what I considered the high rates of oversea freight ruling on produce exported from New Zealand compared with our neighbours and competitors. In September, 1903, I approached the shipping companies who hold a contract to carry butter from New Zealand to London at a freight of |d. per pound, and drew their attention to the report of an arrangement stated to have been entered into between the Victorian Minister of Agriculture and the White Star line of steamers to carry butter from Melbourne to London and Liverpool at a freight of |d. per pound, and pointing out the great importance it was to this colony that Victoria should not have such advantages over New Zealand either in the matter of freight on butter, or in having an extra port of delivery* (Liverpool). I was unable to effect a corresponding reduction for New Zealand, principally because the reduction in Victoria proved subsequently to be only temporary. Further developments have taken place this year with the result that Australian shippers have entered into two contracts—one with the White Star, Lund's, and the Aberdeen Lines of steamers at £3 10s. per ton, and the other with the Peninsular

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