The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-17
BUsINEss IN AUsrR4LAsIA.


WASHINGTON. March $50 far a. the
commercial interests Of the United StaV's
are concerned British Australasia u
field Of unCultivated opportunities ms
imports Of the area, including New Yea
land, exceed $500 900 900 a year. although
a considerable amount Of this IL local inter
colonial trade. Americas sales for the
last four years have averaged about $50
600 a year. While this Is about three
times the value OF our trade Of ten years
ago, IL Ia only petty percentage OF the
purchase- OF an important market.
The merchandise wanted Ia that market
Ia very much the same, In It's general range
IA that required in our own. The AustraI-
asians we're last year. our best customers
for buiIders' HARDWARE with the exception
Of Great Britain and Canada. They bought
81 OOO 0OO worth Of paper and 5000 ,OOO
worth Of mineral oils. They bought ST2s,-
900 worth Of leaf tobacco and 81 TO 600
worth Of cigars and cigarettes, instead OF
buying those Philippine goods whose
composition IL 20 feared by the American
tobacco interests. They took $3.50 900 worth
Of American boots and shoes and tSoO'OOO
worth Of leather. We sold them $500 900
worth Of cotton cloth In open competition
with countries to which We sold raw cotton,
Those TO whom we sold this raw material
sent to British Australasia ti2 900 900 worm
Of cloth and 800, 900 worth Of cotton yarn
few days ago a group Of cotton growers
and manufacturers visited the President
10 ask his aid in finding a market for their
goods. The expenses Of their tTtp would
have been much more wisely used in send
ing a competent representative 10 solicit
trade in British Australasia,
We sold 10 these people other merehan-
disc a. follows Sewing machines, $780,
900; electrical appliances and machinery,
S1OO 900; timber. $3.50, 900; lumber, 81, 200, 900;
typewriters, $40 900; agricultural imple-
ments. 81 $50, 600; books, &C, 500 900; BIZ
cycles, tl75, 900; cars and carriages, $3.50. 900;
fruit and nuts t24O, 900; turpentine and
naval stores, 5000 900; seeds, SIS, 900; furni-
ture, $3.50, 900. All Of these items represent
the trade Of a developed civilization. They
represent the trade Of people like our
selves, Of a market Hike our own
While our sales in this area exceed
those Of Germany, they are only about
one-fith those OF England. The open
ing OF the Panama Canal should
have a very important effect on our
Australasian sales. Instead Of the long
rail haul to San Francisco and a 1000
mile sail from there TO Australasia, wares
from our Eastern manufacturing centres can
be loaded on shipboard and sent to Mel
bourne OF to Sydney with an advantage
OF 1000 miles in distance in favor Of New
York over English ports, or an advantage
OF g. 900 miles In the case Of New Orleans.
But there 10 no reason why American
merchants should wait for the opening Of
this advantage. An extension Of our
present business can be effected by the eI-
erCise Of a reasonable amount Of intelligent
business activity. A good many wheels
can be set in motion and a considerable
number Of hands employed If the Aus
tralasian market is sought in a business
like manner
Those who get in now will be on the
ground floor when the larger trade opens
by and by.