Interesting Exhibition of What Can be Supplied at Trade Commiesioner's Office Chinese opinion on the subject of what the Australian market has to offer may be said to correspond roughly with the average Briton's conception of it in the Far East. The views of both would undergo considerable revision were they to examine some of the samples shown at an exhibition of manufactured products and foodstuffs being held at the offices of Mr. E. S. Little, Australian Trade Commissioner.
Most of us know that Australia is the greatest wool producing country in the world, that the Commonwealth is famous for its cattle and cereals (particularly wheat) but we only think of its trade as being in the main carried on w ith the Mother Country. For this reason and the fact that there are signs of distinct interest, locally in what Australia can supply not only as a primary producing country, bet largely as a manufacturing country as well, this week's e: hibit tion is both timely and of es importance to the business The variety of the goods shown amazing for such a comparatively new country. Almost every commodity from agricultural machinery to household hardware; from woollen fabrics to women's hats, and every variety of tinned meat, vegetables and fruits were shown or referred to by handbooks at yesterday's private view. As wool is ona of the staple products of the country, one expected some sur. prises in this particular branch of industry, albeit. that Australia does not loom largely in the familiar piece goods trade. Worsted, tweeds and heavier cloths have lately been produced on a large scale, and no buyers can feel disappointment at what is manufactured in suiting "and blankets. One of the most striking woollen exhibits, recently sent over, is undoubtedly the ideal material for winter wear for the Chinese, particularly those iv the _uorthern provinces where the temperature frequently falls below zero. It combines the advantages of being absolutely waterproof but. at the same time as warm as the fleece lined and more expensive materials at present used by the inhabitants, a certain amount of oil having been left in the cloth during its preparation.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.