LUXURY IMPORTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 162, 11 July 1925, Page 9

LUXURY IMPORTS.

TIME TO CALL A HALT. . NEED FOR GREATER PRODUCTION. TRADING WITH OUR CUSTOMERS. (By Telegraph.-—Special to "Star,"). DUNEDIN, this day. At a meeting of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, the president made some interesting remarks on the subject of Xew Zealand trade. He stated that he did not want to be an alarmist, but he would like to draw attention to some of the outstanding features in regard to the outlook for New Zealand trade. He believed that the Dominion was on the threshold of an era that was fraught with all sorts of possibilities and dangers. The Chamber of Commerce had been very active in looking after people who imported* goods, and also after a section- of those who were exporters. The Chamber of Commerce had sent out a circular which merited careful reading. They knew that New Zealand was one of the most prosperous countries ih the world, and that if the farmers kept on producing it would always be one of the most favoured countries,, but a country could not be prosperous unless there was sufticient excess of exports over imports. Tlie farmer was always told that he must increase production, but the position that had been created was not due so much to lack of increase in production or, exports, as to the fact that so many luxury goods were imported. Imports had been dangerously high this year: every importing house was endeavouring to cut down importations of luxuries, but the fact was that there was a demand for them, and it had to be met. Importation of luxuries was responsible for the present position, and might be responsible for landing them in an unfavourable position within the next twelve months. The speaker mentioned that while there were large quantities of tomatoes grown in New Zealand, half the tomato soup that was procurable in restaurants was imported. The question was what could be done by the union to give tlie people a lead in the direction of cutting down unnecessary expenditure on goods which had to be imported. So far as dairy produce wag concerned, he thought the price next year would be about the same as it was this year, and he had grave doubts about lamb' and wool. If imports kept up to the same level as they had been for the last year, and exports were the same in volume but less in value it stood to reason they would be far worse off next year. In twelve months they might be faced with conditions tbat were not so favourable as those prevailing to-day. Mr. John Christie said every effort should be made to trade with people who traded' With us. New Zealanders had certainly been very lax in regard to this matter in the past. It might be necessary to pay more for a British motor car or truck, but the purchasers got value for their money. If they could not increase export prices they should increase exports by putting more people on the land. By doing that they would increase the exports of butter, lamb, wool and everything else. They would have to institute a land policy, that would bring more land into occupation, and they should have people who knew, their job when they took Up land. Mr. Waite said he thought they should work more in harmony with the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Christie said that there was an enormous amount of money going into power boards, etc., which should be usfedl for the development of the land.