EXPORT PROBLEMS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 242, 26 July 1935, Page 7

EXPORT PROBLEMS

SUPPLY AND CONSUMPTION.

QUESTION OF REGULATION. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, July 25. Some of the problems to be faced by primary producers’ boards in the marketing of their products were referred to by Sir Francis de-puty-chairman of the Executive Commission of Agriculture, when addressing the New Zealand Fruit Export Control Board Conference to-day. Sir

Francis said that although prices in the last marketing season had generally been satisfactory, it was significant that their improvement coincided with a ligtening of the apple load on New Zealand's principal market, clearly indicating the importance of regulation of the supply within reasonable consumptive limits. The main aim of the Board has been to secure a premium price by concentrating pn quality, and that had tended to regulate export volume, but the problem ahead of the Board, in trade with Britain at any rate, was

not merely the maintenance oi quality, but a reasonable regulation of the quantity!. In considering that aspect, it had to ibe remembered that New Zealand was not the only off-season supplier of apples to Britain, and that aspect made the matter of international cooperation one of vital importance. In that respect it was gratifying to note that a dictinct move had been made by the Dominion with its principal competitor—'Australia. Dealing with export markets, Sir Francis said that the Fruit Board had realised the seriousness of the dangers that the future might reveal if the industry was content to rely almost exclusively on Britain, and the fact that even during the past season, when international trading was difficult, nearly 25 per cent, of the exported fruit went to markets other than Britain was indicative of the Board’s progressive policy.

The local market, said Sir Francis, was not receiving as much attention as was being given to the export trade. The local market should be, and possibly it Avas, the best market the fruitgrowers had. It was realised that this phase of fruit trading Avas far more difficult to organise and control. One of the difficulties, hitherto insurmountable, Avas the part played by IoAV-grade fruit in. depressing the market to the detriment of fruit of good quality. He understood that there Avas . a danger of the Dominion Mark scheme being AvithdraAvn. The AvithdraAval of the scheme Avas to be regretted unless “the industry had something better in mind.