NEW MARKETS FOR BUTTER

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 287, 4 December 1930, Page 11

NEW MARKETS FOR BUTTER

SURMOUNTING TARIFF BARRIERS. MB. A. E. ODLIN'S SUGGESTIONS. That New Zealand must extend her markets for dairy produce and overcome tariffs bv the quality of her products is the opinion expressed by Mr. A. E. Odlin, of the C. and A. Odlin Timber I Company, who has returned to Auck-, land from a world tour. j Mr. Odlin observed that since Ireland ! had settled down,"its production of butter had increased, and lie said New Zea.land could in the future expect much more competition from that quarter than in the past. In aclditipn, if Eugiaud and Scotland were to return _to grass land production the competition would become still more serious. It was absolutely essential that New Zealand; extend her markets elsewhere for butter and other products. England could not be expected to continue absorbing all of the Dominion's primary products. In both Canada and America tariffs operated against the importation of }jew Zealand butter, but it was' New Zealand's duty to surmount those tariffs and share in the market on the quality ot' her product. He had met in British Columbia who insisted on having New Zealand butter, irrespective of the increased duties. Obviously with those people our butter had established a name on the market, in spite of the tariff.

"In my opinion." said Mr. Odliu. '"we .should push our butter and our lamb in the eastern States ot America, an<l_ push them on quality. We must not be afraid of the American tariff. There is a good market for cheese in America, but ihe fancy varieties are required, and buyers' requirements, of course, would ■have -to be studied." It would require mosey to open up fresh markets, but it £100.000 were appropriated by Parliament for the purpose it would represent only a small percentage of the total annual value of New Zealand's exports. ' "I do not think that all the advertising- and 'push' in the world will give us back those high prices we have enjoyed in the past," added Mr. Odlin. "We must adjust our ideas downward in that respect." It was, therefore, more than ever essential that our markets 'should be extended. In the L'nited .States his experience was that the butter supplied in the hotels was much inferior in quality to the New Zealand product. If a campaign for the pushing of New Zealand butter there were commenced, it would at the start, of course, have to be educative,, but the results, he'was confident, would repay the effort and the expense.