i 4 02 AUSTRALASIA ILLUSTRATED. 



of frozen meat and preserved meat have not been so steadily profitable as to open up 

 an unlimited trade. The shippers have often been tried by the rise in price at this 

 end, due to severe droughts, and also by low prices in England consequent on the 

 limited and somewhat capricious market. During the time when the mechanical difficulties 

 of sending meat half round the world were being energetically combated, it was fondly 

 hoped that when the process was made a success, the English demand would expand at 

 such a rate that every available mile of Australian pasture would be quickly brought 

 into use. But this dream has not been realized. All difficulties have been conquered 

 but one, namely, that of securing a steady and satisfactory profit. The trade is still a 

 struggling one, and is kept down to small limits, yet those who are engaged in it are 

 patiently waiting, and not without hope for the future. 



Manufactures, Australia is not at present in a position to exchange. For five-sixths 

 of its consumption it is still dependent on the outer world, and its manufacturers have 

 at present no higher ambition than to supply the local market. It will be time enough 

 when that is done to study the markets of the world. But what Australia produces, 

 and can send away to advantage, is already an appreciable item in the world's commerce. 

 In dealing with the different colonies, there has been special reference to the local 

 productions of each, and it will be sufficient, therefore, to say here, that according to 

 the statistical returns for 1887 the gross exports of the whole of the Australian colonies 

 in that year was valued at ,50,552,982, while the imports amounted to ^"57,252,967 

 for less than 4,000,000 of people. 



\\ ith the growth of the commerce came a corresponding improvement in the mercantile 

 marine, and vessels not inferior to those engaged in the trade of any other country 

 have been specially built to carry our merchandise. Lines of large steamers give us quick 

 communication with Europe, Asia and America. 



In addition to the extra-Australian commerce, there is, of course, a large intercolonial 

 trade. The different colonies have different climates, and certain industries are more 

 developed in some of them than in others. But this intra-Australian trade is much 

 checked by the different, and, to some extent, hostile tariffs of the Australian Colonies. 

 The mother-country granted to each colony full fiscal self-government, and exercised no 

 restraint on fiscal legislation. Uniformity of tariffs, therefore, was never compelled, and 

 has never been secured. This has been partly due to the financial necessities of the 

 different Governments, which have varied very much, according to good or bad seasons, 

 and also according to the expenditure on public works. It has also been caused, to 

 some extent, by a varying attachment to fiscal theories. In Victoria, the policy of 

 protection to native industries was first established, and has been strenuously supported ; 

 but in all the other colonies there has been some incidental protection under the revenue 

 tariffs. In New South Wales there has been the nearest approach to a free-trade policy. 

 At the present time, no two colonies have the same tariff, and there are customs' officers 

 on th,e frontiers of all the colonies on the main-land. The policy of having a customs' 

 union for; the whole of Australia is strenuously maintained, but it is, to some extent, 

 in conflict with the desire for local protection, and the adjustment of these conflicting 

 views and interests forms one of the perplexities of the Australian statesman. 



Australian commerce is well supplied with every description of mercantile convenience. 



