64 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



Trade in tools and hardware is certainly inclining towards tlie United 

 States, and witli tlie increasing communication witli tliat busy manu- 

 facturing world the older channels seem likely to become neglected. 



Leather. 



Notwithstanding the important place this and the northern colony 

 hold in the export of hides (and recent operations have been on an 

 increased scale), the local tanneries have failed to grow independent 

 of the outside world. Here again the American manufacturer asserts 

 himself strongly, vieing with the English market for the supply of 

 our wants, which he does by one-third. With an export of three 

 times that of our imports, it is almost a wonder that we should require 

 to approach foreign markets, but no doubt time will effect a great 

 revolution in this particular, as already the local manufacture of 

 leather goods has become an important industry, so much so that 

 some of our factories boast of the most modernised appliances in the 

 world. 



Soft Goods. 



Reference has already been made to the distribution of the imports 

 of this most important class of manufactures, contributing as it does 

 about one-fifth of the entire revenue of the Colony. The volume of 

 imports has been practically untouched by local manufacture, and even 

 the most optimistic forecast of the manufacturer cannot bring within 

 measureable distance the establishment of self-supporting industries 

 for the absorption of the bulk of our great wool staple locally. Mean- 

 time, the supply is practically in the hands of English and foreign 

 houses, and the variety and extent of the requirements of this Colony, 

 as well as the demands made upon its stocks from other consumers, are 

 such as to encourage the importer to believe that in spite of the retail 

 character of the distributing trade, this Colony has an immense future 

 before it, and one which gives promise of placing the port of Sydney 

 at the head of the list of commercial centres south of the line, not 

 only in the import and distribution of soft goods, but in all manu- 

 factures which are inseparable from the extension and progress of 

 civilisation. 



Import Charges. 



Costs incidental to import form an important factor in the import 

 trade, and one which cannot fail to have the closest attention of both 

 importers and producers or manufacturers at sources of supply. The 

 Australian trade presents peculiar advantages in the matter of freight 

 at the opening of the wool season, when bottoms can be secured at 

 English berths at 50 per cent, or even greater reductions on current 

 rates. This was brought under very prominent notice last season when 

 several outward-bound ships to load wool were supplied with cement 

 at the rate of about Is. per cask, as against 2s. to 2s. 3d. in the 

 ordinary course. This is a matter which is worth the closer attention 

 of English and Continental shippers, and one which would amply 

 repay investigation. Competitive steam rates have done much towards 

 reducing sail freights, indeed so much so at times that fears have been 

 entertained that the white wings of cargo traders will ere long become 



