SELLING N.Z. PRODUCE

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21198, 23 June 1934, Page 18

SELLING N.Z. PRODUCE

\ SIR JAMES PARR IN GLASGOW OFFICIAL GUEST OF CITY (ritoir oua own cokhespondest.) LONDON. May 15. Sir James Parr returned to London this morning by the Scottish express, alter a very successful and very strenuous day's campaign in Glasgow. The High Commissioner's visit was organised by the Clyde Navigation Trust, and it was in the interest of increased reciprocal trade. His last visit there was in 1923. Sir James crowded a remarkable amount of work into one day. Important di®ties in London prevented an extension of his visit. He was met at has hotel at 9.30 a.m. by representatives of the Clyde Navigation Trust, the City Council, and commercial in-* terests in the city, and, accompanied by Mr R. S. Forsyth, Mr H. E. Davis, and Mr H. Turner (representatives in Britain of the New Zealand Meat, Dairy, and Fruit Boards respectively), he motored first to the Glasgow meat market, where New Zealand lamb and boneless beef were on exhibition and sale; then to the fruit market, where New Zealand apples and pears made a good showing; and lastly to the cheese market, to see a large display of New Zealand cheese. The High Commissioner spent the entire forenoon in this way, having many important interviews with leaders in the trades represented, and discussing problems concerning the sale of New Zealand produce. In each of the markets press photographs were taken of the High Commissioner and the markets, the High Commissioner and his party were driven to the City Chambers, where Sir James was the guest at luncheon of the Lord Provost, Mr Alex. B. Swan. There was a distinguished gathering, including Sir Steven Bilsland (president of the Chamber of Commerce), Sir Robert Wilson, Mr W. F. Robertson (chairman of the Clyde Navigation Trust), Councillor Ernest Greenhill (convener of the Corporation Markets Committee), Bailie Robertson (senior magistrate), Sir John Samuel, and the heads of the meat dairy, and fruit ' firms chiefly concerned in the New Zealand trade in Glasgow. Sir Godfrey Collins (Secretary of State for Scotland) was also present.

Trip Down the Clyde Alter the luncheon Sir James paid a formal visit to the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce —which is the oldest institution of its kind in Great Britain —where he was shown many interesting relics of former days, and later he embarked on one of the Clyde Navigation Trust's tugs for a run down the river in the welcome spring sunshine, to see the evidence of increased shipping activities. It was most encouraging to hear the clang of the rivetting 011 both sides of the Clyde, although as was remarked to Sir James, there is ample accommodation in the ship yards for the execution of still more orders. In Harland and Wolff's Yards the new 13,000-ton steamer for the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company was seen under construction, and two New Zealand liners were also noticed discharging at the wharves. The journey ended at the John Brown Yards, where the High Commissioner saw the huge Cunarder now being built. Sir James had a brief respite at his hotel and then was tno guest at dinner of the president of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce. Sir Steven Bilsland presided, and in addition to the Lord Provost of Glasgow there were present Sir James Lithgow, Bt„ Sir Robert Bruce (editor of the "Glasgow Herald"), Mr George A. Mitchell (the Dean of Guild). Colonel C. J. Hirst, ana many of those who were present at the luncheon, also, of course, the representatives of the three New Zealand produce boards. Sir James Parr was complimented upon the very forceful way in which he had pleaded for a greater share of Glasgow's patronage of New Zealand butter, meat, cheese, fruit, and other products. His arguments in support of his pleas, in which he showed the very considerable extent of New Zealand's purchases from Glasgow in particular, and from Britain in general, won a very warm response from the speakers representing Glasgow interests, and the success of the visit may be summed up in the concluding words of the Lord Provost, "We have done a very good day's work to-day." Sir James left by train for London half an hour after the conclusion of the dinner.

His visit nad wide publicity in the press, and his speeches were reported at considerable length by the Glasgow and Edinburgh papers. This visit is the prelude to an intensive campaign which the New Zealand Produce Boards will open in Glasgow immediately. This campaign was frequently referred to in speeches, and full support was promised by the trade interests represented.

No better demonstration could be given of the great help which the chief representative of New Zealand in Great Britain is able to give in pushing the interests of New "Zealand produce.

According to a Brisbane report, it is generally believed that Australian sales will not be held before August. Winchcombe. Carson, Ltd., recalls the suspension of mid-May sales for two months in 192. r > and states that when sales were resumed in July, 1925, a keen demand was experienced, particularly from the Continent, and prices were 5 per cent, higher than when the sales had been stopped. The firm's survey continues: "During the months ahead trade overs€*cis muy improve. Meantime a fair consumption of raw materials is proceeding, in spite of the lessened activity at the mills. Slocks will be diminishing as wool will not be arriving from the producing countries. To some degree, however, holdings of wool in Australia and elsewhere will be accumulating. Although Australia will not finish the season with the stores free of wool, as looked probable a short time ago, the quantity carried over is not likely to be unduly heavy; but it is to be sincerely hoped that conditions will improve sufficiently to permit the authorities to arrange for auctions to take place in July. By that means the new season would be free of carryover stocks, which would certainly be an advantage.