46 1 



THE TRADE OF AUSTRALASIA IN AGRICUL- 

 TURAL PRODUCE. 



The exports of agricultural produce from Australasia in 

 recent years have amounted in value to about ^26,000,000 

 annually, all but about a fifth of this sum representing con- 

 signments of Colonial produce to the United Kingdom. New 

 South Wales claims the lion's share of this trade, with ship- 

 ments returning an estimated gross yearly income of over 

 ;£8,ooo,ooo. For the second place there is close competition 

 between Victoria and New Zealand, the respective export 

 trade accounts of these colonies amounting to between 

 ^5,000,000 and ^6,000,000 per annum. Queensland follows 

 with an annual extra-colonial exportation of the approximate 

 value of ;£"3,ooo,ooo ; and South Australia participates to the 

 extent of about £2,000,000. In Western Australia agricul- 

 ture has not yet emerged from the pioneer stage, consequently 

 the exports of the products of the industry from this colony 

 are inconsiderable. Tasmania may be regarded as the mar- 

 ket garden for the continent of Australia, and the bulk of her 

 produce is consigned to consumers on the mainland ; her 

 extra-colonial exports amount in value to between 150,000 

 and 2 50,000 yearly. 



Wool continues to be the chief product of farming in Aus- 

 trala'sia, and constitutes the principal item in the accounts of 

 the outward trade of the country. The dominant position 

 occupied by this staple relatively to other kinds of pro- 

 duce exported is shown by the following statement of 



