April. 1907] Three Wars' Progress in Agricidtiirc. 



203 



Dau-3' Produce 



Meat 



Rabbits and Hares 



Fruit 



Grand Total- 



Summary of Value of Export.?. 



190.3. 190+. 190.5. 



£ £ £ 



1,482,993 1,875,341 1.898,055 



.. 187,179 189,938 339,027 



204.230 210,679 267,860 



111.994 114,286 69.0.54 



19()(). 



£ 



2,386.917 



541.826 



249.398 



81.143 



1,986,396 2,390,244 2,573,996 3,259,284 



Inspection of Exported Produce. 



educational work carried on by the Department, has been extended bv the 

 introduction of a complete system of grading. The grading was voluntary 

 up to September, 1906, when the introduction of the Commonwealth Com- 

 merce Act made it compulsory. The preceding tables will give some idea 

 of the proportions of the trade at the present time, and it mav be men- 

 tioned that during the four months ending 31st January, 1907. about 17., 000 

 consignments of butter alone were examined and graded bv officers of the 

 Department. 



A contract with the White Star, Aberdeen, and Lund Lines, made in 

 1905, secured a reduction of 50 per cent, in the freight on frozen produce 

 for three years. With the present volume of exports a reduction of the 

 rate from fd. to fd. per lb. is equivalent to a saving to the producer of 

 ^70,000 per annum. At the same time, the space available is enlarged, 

 the temperature lower than ever before. 



Early this year two Commercial Agents were appointed, for a period of 

 three years, to promote trade between Eastern Countries and Victoria, Mr. 

 J. M. Sinclair being sent to work in the Malay States, India, Burma, Java, 

 Sumatra. &c., and Mr. Levien in Japan and China. 



Many desirable connexions between Victorian Exporters flnd Eastern 

 merchants have been established, and already considerable advantage has 

 been gained. Mr. Sinclair has succeeded in persuadine the Indian Goyern- 

 ment to try Victorian foddt^r for Army purposes, and a trial order has 

 now been received. 



Compared with other States, Victoria is at a disad\antage in its trade 

 relations with such places as Singapore, Batavia, Malay States, and sur- 

 rounding centres, as there is no regular shipping service from Melbourne to 

 such ports, while both Sydney and Adelaide enjoy a three-weekly service. 

 The Government is determined, however, that this disad\-antage shall not 

 continue, and has called for tenders for a monthly service of steamers, 

 with a view to encouraging Victorian trade. 



