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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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C.O.885

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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NEGLECTED EXPORTS.

SECRETARY'S REPORT.

WITH reference to a communication from the Hon. the Agent-General touching the possibilities of extended trade between the Colonies and the United Kingdom, have the honour to submit the following particulars, which may be of some use in determining the nature of despatch necessary to cover returns of our leading products. I have confined my remarks to general terms, as any necessary statistics can be submitted in the returns called for.

Some of the principal products which this Colony can now, or will, in the imme- diate future, be able to, produce, and which have not yet found sufficiently satisfactory markets in the United Kingdom, are the following :-

GROUP I-PASTORAL PRODUCTS.

Wool. In these it may be asserted that we have taken premier position as far as wool is concerned, and probably at the present stage any interierence, even in the direction of improving the position of the industry in the United Kingdom, would be more likely to be resented than appreciated by the pastoralists, who certainly deserve credit for the earnest zeal which has overcome so many difficulties, and placed our wool trade in such an enviable position.

Pastoral by-products-Wool production cannot, therefore, be classed among our neglected industries; but such by-products as hides, skins, bones, horns, hoofs, tallow, lard, &c., of which we are large exporters, might well repay some additional amount of attention being called to them.

GROUP II. DAIRY PRODUCTS.

Although we have already had a fair amount of success in placing our dairy produce on the markets of the United Kingdom, much remains to be done to popularise them, especially in the provinces. Up to the present the London market has almost monopo- lised our output, and although a fair market has always been found there, the necessity of getting into closer touch with the multitude of consumers in such centres as Man- chester, Glasgow, Liverpool, &c., is every day more apparent. That we are destined to take a large part in this class of trade seems inevitable, and it is considered necessary to make some decided move during the coming season, so as to keep well to the front in securing a share of the markets.

Butter. Our butter at present compares favourably with that of Denmark, and the rapid adoption of the latest and most approved appliances, together with the excellence of our stocks and pastures, and the fact that our flush season meets the scarce supply of winter in Britain, fully justify active measures being taken to secure a premier position throughout the United Kingdom.

Cheese.--Of cheese we have exported but little, although there is a prospect of greatly increased supplies soon, especially as the scientific methods of the present day are gradually replacing the admittedly indifferent systems of the past.

Condensed Milk. Several schemes for utilising a portion of our skim-milk by con- densation are being tried, and there is some hope that we will soon be able to supply a superior article of food from this source.

GROUP III-MEAT.

The trade in this product is but in its vigorous infancy, although for years past capital and energy have gained for us a foothold in the markets of Britain. There is almost unlimited scope for the Colony's surplus supplies, notwithstanding the compe tition of America, North and South, and other nations.

One of the essentials of success lies in our meat being fairly represented on the market, and this, it is to be feared, is not always done. It is an undoubted fact that many interested butchers are in the habit of selling our primest meats as native reared, and ticketing only the culls as "New South Wales," or "Australian," much to the pre- judice of our suppliers. Canada and America have already gone directly into the British market, and it is quite evident that we must adopt similar means of selling our best stocks if we wish to avoid having our name discredited with the consumers.

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Live Cattle-Although our supplies of horned cattle are considerably below those of Queensland, we have still a substantial margin to export, and although experiments in shipping cattle alive must be admitted a partial failure, so far as it has gone, we should have no difficulty in finding ready sale for larger quantities of beef, chilled or frozen, than we are at present sending.

Beef-Any action, therefore, which would place fairly before the consumers the excellent quality of our beef, must have a decided effect in increasing this important trade.

Mutton. In mutton we have made substantial progress, but there is scope for large improvement, especially in the direction of providing efficient inspection of cargoes at port of discharge and supervision of the methods of handling, care during transit, and other matters which may affect the quality or appearance of the carcases.

The complaint of misrepresenting our mutton as Scotch, Welsh, &c., is frequent, and prevents the consumer appreciating the best qualities of our meat. This, in justice to the Colony, should be stopped, even if it can only be done by branding the meat before shipment or coming on the market as retailers.

Pork, Bacon, &c.-Very little has been attempted in the export of pork, either fresh or as ham and bacon, but with the rapidly increasing number of our dairy herds and the large quantities of milk, &c., available for pig feed, besides the cheapness of other classes of food and the suitability of our climate, there must soon be a surplus for other markets. Meantime we consume more than we produce.

Preserved Meats, Soups, &c.-In the packing and preparation of preserved meats, soups, &c., a considerable amount of intelligent energy has of late been displayed, and there can be no doubt that, with a proper system of placing these before the consumers, a large share of business would come to the Colony which at present, on account of in- adequate representation, goes elsewhere.

The quality of these meats, soups, and extracts is quite up to the highest standard of excellence, and simply needs to be made better known; much good to the Colony would result.

GROUP IV SMALL GOODS.

Poultry, rabbits, game, eggs, fish, &c.-These, which may be classed generally as "small goods," have, up to the present, hardly passed the experimental stage of export- ing, but an intelligent amount of interest is now being drawn to them, with the probable result that in future seasons we will become large exporters. At this stage it is un- necessary to particularise these products, but there is no doubt that an active campaign among British consumers would soon lead to extensive arrangements being made for shipments. The success of the adjoining colonies will no doubt be a further incentive to our producers.

GROUP V. Cereals, &C.

As yet this Colony has not made any figure as an exporter of grain, and the pro- duction of cereal crops has been subordinated to the staple product, wool. There are evidences, however, that agriculture will in the near future, when closer settlement and increasing population warrant its extension, occupy a large place in the economy of the Colony and become a feature to be reckoned with in our list of exports.

Wheat. In wheat it is probable that next season will see us supplying all our owr. requirements, and our surplus then must abide by the natural law of trade and follow the fluctuations of the world's market-Mark Lane. We have millions of acres of magnificent wheat lands, which have in the past supported an average of about half a sheep per acre, but which are now found to be capable of producing an average of 20 to 25 bushels of wheat.

That they are destined to this class of cultivation ultimately cannot be doubted, and arrangements should not be delayed to enable us to take fullest advantage of the Euro- pean market when the time comes; especially as our staple grain is of the highest possible grade as regards the milling and baking qualities.

Barley-Barley for malting stands next in importance as a possible source of export trade, and from the excellence of our samples, I anticipate a very large business in this cereal as soon as British brewers turn their attention in our direction.

Other Cereals.-Oats, peas, beans, maize, &c., have not up to the present occu- pied a large share of our attention, but may in future form part of our available exports.