POSITION IN NEW ZEALAND.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20342, 15 September 1931, Page 10

POSITION IN NEW ZEALAND.

RELATION WITH BRITAIN. REPORT OF TRADE COMMISSIONER. (FROM OUR OWN correspondent.) LONDON, August 7, In his review of the economic situation in 1930, Mr L. A. Paish, 0.8. E., Trade Commissioner, reports that tho year was for New Zealand one of depression. The prices obtained for her principal exports, particularly wool, fell to an alarming extent, with the result that exports dropped by £10,500,000, whilst imports dropped by £5,750,000. Imports slumped severely owing to a multiplicity of causes, amongst which may be mentioned financial stringency, increased tariffs, and the development of an adverse rate of exchange with the United Kingdom. To add to the prevailing distress, New Zealand was visited in February last with its most disastrous earthquake, which caused extensive damage and loss of life. • The reconstruction of Napier and Hastings will doubtless throw a heavy charge on the community. , , IMI . For the financial year ended 19j*l> no says, there will be a considerable deficit. Additional taxation will P 1 " 0 , ably be necessary to balance the budget, and although the necessity lor this is to bo regretted all Parties in New Zealand realise to the full that tiie economic stability of the Dominion rests upon that being done and upon obtaining a greater excess of exports over imports. There is no doubt, however, that the people of tho Dominion are facing the position and intend o put their own house in order so as to meet the change in the world conditions. Exaggerated View of EarthquakeTo his comments upon the earthquake disaster the- Trad© Gommissione adds that. it is easy to form exaggerated ideas on the subject of New Zealand's shocks. Most of them originate several hundreds of miles out at sea, and fortunately the intensity ot ttio shock or wave dies down rapidly. N Zealand has wonderful scenery and as a pleasuro and sporting resort shoul have an immense appeal in the future. It is hoped, therefore, that intending visitors should not be dissuaded from coming bv fear of a repetition of a disaster such as occurred in February. A useful point which he that visitors from abroad frequently do not allow themselves sufficient time to cover adequately the whole country. In addition to the four mam cities there are a number ot other c . entl !®® that could profitably be included in the tourists' itinerary. . Production and trade receive comprehensive treatment, in the report, special attention being paid to imports from the United Kingdom. While the United Kingdom's share of New Zealand's import trade in 1930 was 47.27 per cent., as against 80.17 per cent, of the export trade, there are many import lines in which Great Britain cannot be expected to compete. _ J_n those in which she can, however, it is satisfactory to note that she is supplying an increasing share. Road Construction and Cars. Mr l'aish mentions that the heavy annual expenditure on roads during the last few years has improved tlio roads of tho sJ)ominion to a remarkable extent. ' %"New Zealand is fortunate so much of the road construction and improvement has been carried out during the motor ago, and while much remains to be done, considerable mileages of roads liavo been constructed and improved so as to /be essentially suitable for motor traffic; tho grading is good, and on curves, particularly in the hilly districts, many of the roads are banked so ad to make for safety at comparatively lngh speeds. Recently the expenditure on roads has been swollen in an endeavour to alleviate the unemployment situation, but the results cannot be ether than to enhance the prosperity of the country. "This part of the Empire is essentially a country where road transport is of primary importance, and it is probably only second to the United States in the proportion of cars to tho population. The number of motor-cars on the register on October 31st, 1930, was 138,982, and if one adds to that figure the number of motor trucks, motor omnibuses, motorcycles and other miscellaneous motor vehicles, the total number becomes 206,321. This is, of course, a comparatively small figure, but when it is related to tho population of the Dominion, which is under one and a half million, it will be appreciated that motoring is a really important thing to tho New Zealander. British and American Cars. "It is unfortunate from a United Kingdom point of view that the country has been supplied as regards its motoring requirements so much from the American continent. Motorists have been educated from their infancy as motorists in the belief that the only motor engine that is suitable for tho country is the large engine with tho large petrol consumption which is popular in America. It should bo only necessary to point out that an engine may be a good engine when petrol costs between 6d and Is a gallon, but it may be a very bad engine when petrol is at 2s to 2s 6d, and that is the pritee of petrol in New Zealand." The English car, it is stated, is obviously gaining in popularity in the Dominion. The popularity of tho baby models has made it clear that there is nothing in New Zealand conditions to make the English type of car unsuitable, and the trek of the motor-car distributor away from the American to the United Kingdom car has been one of the features of the motor year. As instancing the suitability of the English car with a comparatively low Treasury rating, it may be mentioned that a 10 h.p. model recently beat the Wellington-Auckland Limited express. The import figures, of course, show the change-over, although the change is not so great as will probably be shown v»ben a comparison is drawn between 1930 and 1931. Italy Supplies Hats. Mr Paish states that the steadily rising Italian competition in hats and caps has at length been checked. There is reason to think that foreign hats | have some advantages Over United Kingdom hats in quality, not so much that tho quality is better but that it j is different, and for some people the foreign hat has a stronger appeal. Advertising of the foreign product is also moro extensive, and foreign firms are reported to be moro accommodating than some of their United Kingdom competitors in the matter of minimum quantities. English manufacturers of hats would be well advised to label their hats "English made," as it is frequently-ra matter of difficulty for the New Zealand man in the street to know what is the country of origin of many hats on sale here. There may be a possible field for co-operative advertising in this liuo, particularly in view of tho increase in the preference,

Four chapters deal with transport and communications, public works, legislation, and social questions. The report is supplemented with four useful appendices, the first of which gives a brief description. oi : tariff items upon

which the tariff has been increased 5 per cent, on non-British goods, whilst tJio remaining three relate to banking xcturns, area and yield of crops, and total imports by classes, distinguishing the share of tho United Kingdom. Altogether Mr Paish gives a great deal of useful information in concentrated form. . Tho report has been issued by the Department of Overseas Trade, at the price of 2s. - N.Z. BUTTER AT HOME. RUSSIAN COMPETITION. In a letter to a friend in- Christchurch, Mr Ivan A. Wntkins, who at present is visiting England, encloses tho following clipping relative to Russian .competition -with New Zealand butter, which appeared in the "Daily Mail" of August 3rd: — "Russia, in her vast project to flood tho British market with Soviet butter, has adopted a means of disguising her produce so as to make the housewife believe she is buying New Zealand Kutter. "The Soviet steamer Smolny has just arrived at Loudon Bridge and discharged 4000 boxes of Russian butter. The boxes are an exact copy of tho.so used by New Zealand. Even the grading mark stencilled on the outside is the same shape as the Dominion mark. "They are trading on the fact that tho identification of butter is not compulsory and that nothing can bs done to prevent them copying the boxes,'' said an official of the Empire Marketing Board to a "Daily Mail" reporter. "The Russians could probably be outwitted if shopkeepers would undertake .to ascertain definitely the countries of origin of all their butter and mark up their names so that the housewife could ceo for herself." Better Display Possible. Mr Watkins writes: "I think New Zealand butter could be put before the public of England in a very much better way. In only one instance have I seen it displayed as New Zealand. That was in Torquay, where it was in lib packages and marked, 'New Zealand Butter.' In the majority of shops if one asks for New Zealand butter it is cut from a big block. - It might be butter from anywhere. Most of the shops use their own trading shop j brand, such as 'Maypole,' etc., and ail their goods are sold under that name. I do not see why New Zealand butter should not be placed in tho market here tho same as in New Zealand, in wrapped pound packages, : properly Inbejj<?d. Thenpeople wouldlmow what thoj y Svero getting. V i Other New Zealand Produce. "New Zealand meat, both lamb and mutton, is %o be seen in every town in England and Scotland tbafc we have .teen in_ so far. T noticed prices yesterday in Grantham: Leg lamb, Is lb; shoulder, lid; loin, lOd; which is reasonable. Ido not see any brand on any of tho carcases; only the ticket on the leg. New Zealand l apples are in evidence all over England, from 6d to 8d a lb. New Zealand lfoney is to be seen frequently." WAIMATE DAIRY CO. THE YEAR'S WORKING. A fairly successful season has been experienced by tho Waimatc Co-operative Dairy Company, states the' company's annual roport, which is to "be presented -at the annual general meeting on "September 19th. The report goes on to state that tho- future appears to have an upward tendency, and tbati the directors have confident hopes of good results in the coming season. A final payment for last season's supply of butter-fat of id for October, ljd for Novotuber, lid for December, ljd for January, id for February, and id for March is recommended in the report. The profit and loss account shows a net profit for the season of £1744 7s 4d, against which is set off tho 1929-30 loss of £2218 16s 9d. The supply at tho factory has been veil maintained during tho season, considering the general falling off of production. The factory, plant, and machinery have been kept in u good stato of efficiency, as also have been tho transport arrangements. On July Ist, 1931, the Temuka Co-opera-tive Dairy Company, Ltd., became merged in the Waimato Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd., by resolutions of both companies. The directors record their thanks to tho staff. The directors retiring by rotation i»re Messrs J. I. Kearton and E. Penno, who offer themselves for re-election. Mr J. B. Neale, tho retiring auditor,, offers himself for reappointment.