NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21243, 15 August 1934, Page 16

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE

GLASGOW CAMPAIGN SATISFACTORY RESULTS O/aou oca own coiuuisroKDKMT.) LONDON, July 9. Glasgow is the home of fresh meat. Moreover, a few years ago it was not much in favour of New Zealand butter. These facts being considered, the recent campaign in favour of our produce has given the Meat Board and the Dairy Board considerable satisfaction. The campaign was opened by the Higli Commissioner, who had received an invitation from the Clyde Dock authorities. But previous to that the o/hcials of the two boards had canvassed retailers in the city and surrounding district. For instance, the Dairy Board officials called on 1228 retailers, and of these 930 were found to be selling New Zealand butter. Among the meat salesmen 40 entered for the window-dressing competition, and among the produce retailers 95 entered in No. 1 section (being composed of multiple shops and co-oper-ative stores), and 128 entered for No. 2 section, made up of private traders. A very attractive shop was taken near the Central station, and the usual display of advertising material was made. There was newspaper advertising and posters were placed in all parts of the town and district. Samples of butter in Jib pats were sold to the number of ICO9, and 1900 samples of cheese in 2oz pats. Lamb Sandwiches The Meat Board made an innovation and prepared lamb sandwiches for sale in order to let the people try the merits of cooked frozen lamb. The sandwiches were sold singly as well as in bags, each containing three sandwiches, cheese, biscuits, and a New Zealand apple. As many as 4000 single sandwiches were sold, thus giving the board's officials an opportunity of getting into touch with the consumers and talking of the merits of the moat, and removing the popular prejudice against the frozen article. A painting competition for children was arranged by the Meat Board, and prizes were presented at the largest cinema house in the city, 1000 children I being present. Lady Mason, wife of a former provost of Glasgow, presented the prizes, and Sir Stephen Billsland, Bart., president of the Chamber of Commerce, addressed the children on the subject of Empire. Afterwards the children were ontertamed with cinema films illustrating New Zealand trades, as well a.; New Zealand life and scenery. Finally, a largo' number of merchants, provision retailers, butchers, and their assistants, were the »ucsts of the two boards at the Central Hotel, when the silver cups, diplomas, and cash prizes were presented to the winners in the window-dressing comnetitions. The chair was taken bv Mr If. K. Davis (Dairv Board\ and Lord Provost Swan and Mrs Swan wem present. W'hole-IFourlerf Co-operation Mr Davis said that the co-onerntion of the retail trade was evidenced bv the fact that while in 193.1- when thev had run their last campaign in the city-there were only 23 entries for the window-dressing coinnetitions- of New Zealand dairy produce, there were 223 entries for the competitions just, concluded. There was an evident tendency, said Mr Davis, in certain quarters to sell New Zealand butter and cheese under the general term of Empire, but it should be remembered that there were many sources of Empire supplying butters of many different grades. He would like'to emphasise that New Zealand did not per-

Mit any of her butter under first quality to be sold in the retail shops. Lord l'rovoat's Speech Lord Provost Swan said although they were there that afternoon under the auspices of the New Zealand Produce Boards, being Scottish, they also . had their own motives. One of these , was to obtain and ensure that the ' article they sold was of the very best. ' That being so tiiey, with their knowl ledge of the trade, had for some little i time put New Zealand produce in the I l'ront of their sales camnaigns. To- : day there was a good deal of talk of » helping their own home fanner, and • there was also the point of view that ■ tiie importation of Empire and foreign ■ produce was absolutely against the > welfare of our home industry, which ; in this instance was their own farmer. ■ He (the Lord Provost) wanted dcfli nitely to state that Empire produce did i not compete with the home farmer, : and even if it in any way did so, there was a way in which they as shopkeepers could help the home farmer and still support the overseas Empire producers. He found that in the first five months of this year 9500 tons of butter had come into this country, not from Empire countries, but from countries outside the Empire. That butter was competing not only against Empire produce, but against the home farmer. An important point so far as New Zealand produce was concerned was that they would never receive anything but the very best, and that was not a peculiar characteristic of any of the foreign countries he had referred to. 1 Referring to trade with Glasgow, his < Lordship said that to-day three ships i were being built on the Clyde for ] carrying food from New Zealand to i this country. These vessels were be- i ing equipped with the latest improvements in refrigeration, so that goods ■ of the highest quality and best condition would be delivered on our < shores. Therefore, he again said, buy < ii'rom New Zealand and you will be < helping work on the Clyde. ( It gave him great pleasure to be a there to see the great amount of energy ' t

and zest which the New Zealand Produce Boards were putting into their campaign on behalf of the inhabitants of their country, endeavouring to provide them with more work and money to spend with the Mother Country.