THE IMPORT TRADE. 



59 



Witli reference to the Piicific Island trade, it is wortliy of note that 

 the change in the fiscal policy of the (Joverninent is already showing 

 indications of increased trade with Sydney, and this has been made 

 more apparent by the expansion in transactions between the west 

 coast of America and Sydney, which gives promise of enhancing the 

 volnnie of trade with the Pacific, and nothing can be more conduci\'e 

 to its development than the improved steam service which is now 

 available in that direction. One of the most practical and significant 

 features in connection with the development of this trade has been 

 the recent establishment of an oil-mill in Sydney for the treatment of 

 copra or cocoanut, for the extraction of cocoanut oil and the manu- 

 facture of oil-cake. In opening this new venture, which is the first 

 of its kind in Australia, if not south of the Equator, Lever Brothers 

 (Limited) will concentrate in Sydney a large proportion of raw material 

 for manufacture which previously was only transhipped for London. 

 Not only will the island trade be directed to our port by tliis new 

 project, but with the manufacture of oil-cake the dairy-farming industry 

 will receive a stimulus which Avill place butter manufacturers and 

 exporters beyond the dangers of droughts and their disastrous effects. 

 Sydney being in a position to shortly absorb the bulk of the copra 

 production at her doors, v/ill hold an impregnable position with respect 

 to a reciprocal trade wdth the islands, and a glance at the table given 

 above shows that this is no small quantity. The expenditure of some 

 tens of thousands of pounds of English capital in such a venture is at 

 once significant, and illustrates in a practical way that English manu- 

 facturers have some confidence in the future of trade in Sydney. 

 This undertaking is one which must necessarily succeed, inasmuch as 

 all the oil which can be produced here will be at once absorbed for 

 manufacturing purposes by the Company mentioned at their English 

 works, so that a market is secured which will stand to the producer 

 without fear or favour. Under such advantageous conditions the 

 future of our trade in the direction of the Pacific seems assured. 



A cursory glance at the details of the import trade in some of the 

 items enumerated may not be out of place, as the trade of Sydney 

 carries with it distinctive features of interest to the foreign manu- 

 facturer, producer, and the local importer alike, and which may bo 

 summarised thus : — 



Tea. 

 Until quite recently the direct import of tea to New South AVales 

 was a small proportion of the trade done with Australia. Now, how- 

 ever, this commodity has taken a strong list Sydney ward, and compe- 

 tition has grown strong between China and the more enterprismg 

 growers of India and Ceylon for a first place in our markets. Kecent 

 Eastern hostilities certainly gave a great fillip to business with Colombo, 

 and Calcutta has left no stone unturned to be well withm the running. 

 The result has been heavy consignments and large oifermgs at auction, 

 upon which the blender and retailer have thrived at the expense ot 

 growers and importers. India has proved a powerful rival butli in 

 quality and price, which has tended to flood the market with common 

 descriptions, and not always of a very desirable quality, against which 

 Ceylon has held her own fairly well, notwithstanding the loss ot 



