CO885-(6-7) — Page 645

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O.885

Reference :-

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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be exported from Victoria to the United Kingdom or other parts of the British Empire, but do not at present find a sufficient market there, viz. :

Commolity

26616.

Statistics

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PLAN OF SUGGESTED FORM.

Can the

"tate the Special

Facilities

State the Hindtrances to Production.

Descrip- tion and Quaint

Averroge Price Free on Board.

Freight.

of Tresent Aunual Exportation.

Export

Trade therein be Turvased! If so, under what Conditions

for Production.

QUEENSLAND.

No. 10.

!

Remarks.

EXTRACT from Enclosure in GOVERNOR Lord LAMINGTON'S Despatch, No. 92, of November 11, 1896.

The SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE to the CHIEF SECRETARY, Brisbane.

Department of Agriculture, Brisbane, October 12, 1896.

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pas-

EXPORTS. -in connection with the possible exports, it may be interesting to give the attached particulars concerning certain products that in all probability will before long be exported to some part of the Empire, and in doing so I would draw special at- tention to my remarks upon arrowroot, for, owing to the prohibition at present in force in Great Britain against the sale of the produce of C'anna edulis as arrowroot, the price obtainable by those who have exported this article is simply prohibitive to future trade. Queensland is yet a young country, with a small population chiefly occupied in toral and mining pursuits, and much is now being learned of its possibilities; therefore it can hardly be expected to be an exporter of the special products which, with the now rapidly increasing knowledge of agriculture, are likely in the future to be grown here and exported. Sugar is at present the largest agricultural product of the colony, and the time has not yet come for its export in large quantities to places outside Australasia.

I have, &c.,

A. J. THYNNE.

EXPORTS.

BUTTER AND CHEESE.

The imports of butter in 1894 were valued at £9,585; in 1895, £45,679. The imports of cheese in 1894 were valued at £1,543; in 1895, £4,738; all practically sup- plied by Australasia. The export of dairying produce will before long be an accom- plished fact here, though last year the industry was somewhat retarded by an unfavour- able season. The demand in the North is likely to be greater for a time than heretofore,

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and the surplus manufacture in the South will find a profitable market in the North. The price hitherto obtained for butter in the London market-a small quantity was exported in 1895-has been satisfactory, when taken in conjunction with the bonus now payable. There are immense areas of land eminently suitable for dairying within easy reach of the railways, and at low prices, considering their great fertility, which only need occupation by practical dairy farmers to enable this colony to compete successfully in the world's markets in butter and cheese. The creamcries and butter and cheese fac- tories are rapidly increasing in number, and the industry is even now making great strides.

WINE.

The imports of wine in 1894 were valued at £16,439; in 1895, £27,188.

The exports of wine in 1894 were valued at £787; in 1895, £779.

In this case also the supply has practically been Australian, or from the United Kingdom; the imports from the latter having been in 1894 to the value of £9,536, and in 1895 to the value of £12,003.

Outside of Australasia, the only country worth recording is Portugal, whence wine to the value of £423 was imported in 1895. Wine-making here is yet young, but it is growing larger, and the export trade in the future promises to be somewhat prominent.

ARROWROOT.

Imports of arrowroot in 1894 were valued at £36; in 1895, £102.

Exports of arrowroot in 1894 were valued at £2,966; in 1895 at £3,163. With this manufactured produce it is thought that a fair export trade could be done were the present restrictions removed from the sale of arrowroot as manufactured here. At present under the Food and Drugs Act, no arrowroot can be offered for sale in Great Britain as arrowroot unless manufactured from Maranta arundinacea. Here the greater quantity is made from Canna edulis, or purple arrowroot, which is in every way as nutritive as the Maranta, and is more profitable to the grower. Export trade has been attempted with this product, but has not been established, for the reason given above. It is of importance to the industry that the restrictions be removed.

HONEY.

Imports in 1894 valued at £82; in 1895, £49. Exports in 1894 valued at £251; in 1895, £359.

The exports to the United Kingdom were in 1894 valued at £184; in 1895, £329. With this produce some considerable trade will be done so soon as the prejudice now existing in England against Queensland honey on account of its eucalyptus flavour has been overcome-a prejudice that is only a matter of taste and has no reality.

TOBACCO.

Imports in 1894 valued at £74,250; in 1895, £91,373. Exports in 1894 valued at £4,009; in 1895, £951.

Tobacco is an industry which is yet in its infancy here; and though the plant can be cultivated, generally speaking, all over Queensland, and produces a good crop, it is a plant which requires much care and experience in the preparation for market, which latter has not been attained by our tobacco farmers as a whole, but as this experience is gained so will the area increase, and Queensland tobacco may before long be recognised in the European markets.

TIMBER.

The Queensland timbers are many and of good quality, as exemplified in the Queensland Court of the Imperial Institute, but with regard to the timbers in ordinary use in Europe it is doubtful whether a trade can be established in the face of the supply and competition of the United States of America and of Europe, excepting perhaps in wood for paving blocks, for which there are many timbers growing here that are suitable. The heavy freight upon such cargo, consequent on the want of competition in the steamship lines between here and the United Kingdom, would be a bar to a large trade in timber excepting in special lines.

The Cairns Chamber of Commerce states that a practically unlimited supply of cedar (Cedrela toona) can be placed f.o.b. Cairns at 129. per 100 feet. At present the