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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 61

Shipping and Trade

Shipping and Trade.

Auckland takes the lead in shipping, and it is said that 140 men are regularly employed in the building of wooden steamers, sailing vessels, and boats. The models of the Auckland-built sailing vessels are very beautiful, and it is somewhat surprising that the trade has not extended more than it has done. Wellington has also done good work in building and reconstructing iron steamers: the latest iron steamer built there is the "Maitai," a credit to the colony. The kauri timber of Auckland is well adapted for ship-building, notwithstanding its tendency to shrink all ways after each dressing. There have been eighty-five steamers, altogether, built in the colony, and, with few exceptions, their machinery has been locally made. In 1884 the number of sailing vessels cleared outwards coastwise was 5,316; tonnage, 342,339; crews, 18,667. Steamers, 11.595; tonnage, 2,582,383; crews, 202,510: total vessels, 16,911; tonnage, 2,924,722; crews, 221,177. The inward clearances show almost the same figures. In sailing vessels Auckland claims 2,253, and the next highest in the list is Lyttelton, with 552—showing clearly where the sailing coasting trade chiefly lies. The magnificent vessels of the Union Company and the New Zealand Shipping Company form fleets of which we have reason to be proud, and travellers and globe-trotters asseverate that for comfort and efficiency they are equal to any lines in the world. With a development of the island trade, and possibly with federation and annexation, shipping in New Zealand must come greatly to the front; and before long it will be seen that Nature has made New Zealand supreme as a maritime colony. An attempt was made last session (1885) to give to our seamen votes, so that they might obtain special representation in Parliament, but without success. This was not from any want of sympathy with either seamen or the shipping interest, but from the inconveniences and possible clangers which would arise from such a special qualification.

Before long we trust that ships from our colony will no longer be confined to old beaten tracks, but will strike out for ports now seldom or never visited by our ships. In so doing they will extend the trade of our colony in a thousand various page 82 ways, and draw together the threads which are required to complete our commercial web. Attention has been lately called to the Brazils. The New Zealand Shipping Company's vessels are now touching fortnightly at Rio, on their homeward voyage; and by this means a footing might be secured for the Brazil and West Indian trade. Here is a market where the purity of our New Zealand textile fabrics, and the freshness and unadulterated nature of our products would be appreciated; and, with combination between manufacturer and shipping owner, we could land our goods at a price that would safely compete with other foreign shipments. At first the ship must be content with low freights, but, the trade once established, profit to all would be the undoubted result. Within a voyage of twenty days we have countries containing twenty millions of inhabitants, who are ready to purchase woollen fabrics and clothing, hams, bacon, cheese, and salt butter, frozen fresh butter, fish, game, fruits, preserved fruits and jams, smoked fish, sauces, pickles, candles, and soap, saddles, boots and uppers, colonial jewellery and greenstone and kauri-gum ornaments, ropes, twine, coal, timber, doors, sashes, and mouldings, paper, ornamental ironwork, carts and drays, potatoes, flour, biscuits, colonial wines, bottled ales and whiskey, pottery and tiles, cement, Mahurangi hydraulic lime, colonial furniture and kauri joinery, hats, rabbit fur, &c. The chief staples of Brazil are sugar, cotton, rum, molasses, coffee, tobacco, and bullion. There are also native cloths, diamonds, hammocks, pearls, cordage, preserved tropical fruits, and nuts. There are vast possibilities from the introduction of raw cotton into New Zealand, imperilling, perhaps, the purity of our woollen fabrics, but bringing into existence the cotton manufacturer (see paper by Mr. H. Cowper).

This matter of the trade with Brazil has already called forth several capital papers; and it is sincerely hoped that the practical outcome will be a co-operative combination, in order that a successful opening may be made. Then will the present numbers of our ships and seamen be multiplied, and the demand outside the colony for our goods will stimulate our own appreciation of them. The danger to be avoided is local competition, which may at the outset, flood the selected market with New Zealand goods, and cause so discouraging a loss to the shippers as to prevent a continuance of the experiment. This can be easily avoided page 83 by the formation of a mercantile co-operation, or export shipping company, which will be enabled to send out suitable selections, and time the periods of the arrival of each. Something like this has been begun in Canterbury, with fair success; but the movement might well be extended more vigorously than at present. The Auckland merchants have obtained an exhaustive report on the island trade; and, provided that the requisite number of men will sacrifice a good deal of their energies at first, and invest capital in it, there is no doubt that the requisite opening will be found for the expansion of our trade. There is not much fear of our merchants failing in this enterprise. The time of development may seem long to those watching it, but in the history of nations it will be seen phenomenally short. A nation of traders we are sprung from: it is still in the blood; and we cannot refuse to act up to instincts, even if we would. There is at present every opportunity of our colony being able to acquire Samoa, and buy out German interests for a comparatively small sum. This is one direction in which energy must be shown in order to make our manufactures successful; and, although unable to go fully into the question, it is looked upon as being of the first importance. The Government must be on the alert, and willing to expend the necessary funds at the proper time, and the people must be ready to support and back up the action of their rulers. Look at the possibilities with regard to New Guinea. Annexation has been delayed for the present. Germany is jealous again, but the fit will go off, and a few dollars at the right time will probably settle the question.

But, putting aside the difficulties of annexation—which, from a perusal of the parliamentary papers, appear to be great—and the question of the rights of the natives, a great trade might be developed with the present native possessors of that vast island. They raise large quantities of tropical produce, and have shown themselves willing to exchange their productions for European goods. The products known to exist at present are spices, camphor, gums, sandalwood, ebony, tobacco, sugar, vegetable ivory; besides which, birds of paradise, pearls, tortoiseshells, and other exotic products are to be met with in abundance. There is also evidence of the existence of gold, iron, tin, copper, and other minerals. In the high lands of the interior are plains suitable for breeding cattle and sheep. In exchange for this we page 84 can give the New Guineaites all the products of civilization, of which they will not be slow to learn the uses. We shall probably demoralize them to the extent of changing some of their present vices to those known to ourselves; but we may ameliorate their condition in other respects.

While we have been busy at home it is but natural that we have neglected to look much abroad; but the moment that we can spare time from pressing home calls we should cast our eyes far afield, and throw out our advance posts, to occupy before our neighbours.

Towards Fiji we have looked for some time with annexing eyes. In May this year the Imperial Government declared that they would not entertain the idea; but even since then there are tokens of modification of this view. Looking at the question only in its commercial aspect, and as it affects the development of New Zealand industries, its great importance is apparent. Trade follows the flag, and annexation or federation will become a more burning question than it is at present. The Fijians themselves appear willing and more than willing to join New Zealand; but there has been a feeling with the Home Government to put the drag on her too-enterprising young colonies, and to interpose with difficulties, perhaps to test their sincerity and earnestness. I say nothing about federation with Australia—it is too purely political; but the Fiji and other island trade it is our right to secure, and, if we are in earnest in our endeavours to make ourselves a premier position as traders and manufacturers, we must allow no rival to beat us in the race, but must use all lawful means to secure the prize ourselves. Our trade with Fiji is at present insignificant; it ought to be of first importance. Let us trade with them in everything we deal in. The time would soon come when articles of our own manufacture would take the lead.

Indian Trade.—The opportunity afforded by the Bombay International Exhibition to introduce New Zealand meats and clothing into India is not likely to be neglected. It is proposed to open the Exhibition in Bombay in December, 1886. The New Zealand woollen goods are at present not known. Their lightness, warmness, and softness would recommend them; but of course there would be fierce opposition from the traders in established British stuffs, and price would be a difficulty until page 85 the real value of the goods became known. The trade in frozen meat would be confined to European consumers, as the natives will not touch any kind of meat slaughtered or handled by Europeans. Sir James Fergusson, writing from Bombay, says, "As a rule, the meat supplied in the market is poor compared to Australian and New Zealand meat; but very good meat can be obtained by the larger consumers, and generally that supplied to Government House is little, if at all, inferior. A great many Europeans would pay a somewhat higher price for a really good article, say 6d. to 7d. per pound instead of 3d. or 4d. Some of the Parsees would eat imported meat." The Indian market is more accessible for our woollens, then; and it is to be hoped that the forthcoming Indian and Colonial Exhibition, to be held in London, will do something to open the trade, and that it will be followed up by the Bombay Exhibition.