168 COTTON TEXTILES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



This is the usual method of purchasing and paying for the goods in 

 the United States. If the credit of the Australian merchant is estab- 

 lished, the goods are ordered in the same way through the commission 

 merchant and the transaction is completed in the manner described, but 

 the only saving to the importer is the cost of establishing a bank credit, 

 namely, 1 per cent. Until some convenient method is pursued, the cost 

 of business transactions will be much greater with America than with 

 England, There are very few Australian houses who have agents in 

 New York or other American cities for the purchasing of goods. 



London manufacturers have their representatives on the spot and 

 merchandise is ordered regularly by post. The cable notifies the prices 

 of all English merchandise, whilst American prices are seldom men- 

 tioned. The completion of the proposed ocean cable between San Fran- 

 cisco and Australia would remedy this evil. 



PRICES OF COTTONS IN SYDNEY. 



In this report I have not given the Sydney prices of cotton textiles, 

 but probably from 10 to 20 per cent, above cost would be considered 

 fair selling rates. 



Mr. A. J. Riley estimated the cost of bringing cotton textiles from 

 England to Sydney at 17 percent, by sailing vessels and 22J percent, 

 by steamers when freights are $7.30 and $14.GO, respectively. The cost 

 of packing in wood and zinc cases of 3-feet cube is about 2 per cent, on 

 the value of the goods. A great many of the lower priced cotton manu- 

 factures are packed in bales covered with canvas and tar. 



CUSTOMS DUTIES. 



There are no customs duties charged on cotton fabrics imported into 

 New South Wales, whether of English, American, or any other manu- 

 facture. 



At one time there was an ad valorem duty on such goods, but it has 

 been repealed. 



G. W. GRIFFIN, 



Consul. 

 UNITED STATES CONSULATE, 



Sydney, September 28, 1889 



