DAIRY EXPORTS NEXT SEASON

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26800, 4 August 1952, Page 6

DAIRY EXPORTS NEXT SEASON

Increased Returns Expected

OPINION OF MR W. MARSHALL (New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, August 3. New Zealand’s dairy exports during the coming season were expected to sell at all-round higher prices, said Mr W. Marshall, chairman of the Dairy Products Marketing Commission, on his return to-day from negotiating the new season’s dairy prices with the British Ministry of Food. Although the position justified confidence in the future, said Mr Marshall, there was no room for complacency. Unless there was considerable inflation in other countries, particularly in the United States, New Zealand might have reached the peak in prices for dairy produce. Mr Marshall, who arrived by British Commonwealth Pacific airliner, was accompanied by Messrs H. E. Blyde and H. M. Caselberg, members of the Dairy Commission, and Mr G. M. Pottinger, general manager of the commission. “In the United Kingdom there is grave concern about the general economic position,” said Mr Marshall. “Production in some commodities appears to be overtaking demand, with some lines falling in price. Retail sales at prices much below cost are common, particularly in textiles. "On the other hand, expenditure on rearmaments will tend to maintain a high level of employment, and throughout the Western world to some extent keep down the production of consumable goods.” Price Negotiations Commenting on the price negotiations with the Ministry of Food, Mr Marshall said the United Kingdom was most anxious to secure the maximum quantities of butter, cheese, and milk powder for the 1952-53 season. Pressed*on this request, the New Zealand delegation had agreed to ship to Britain not less than 90 per cent, of New Zealand’s exportable surplus of cheese.

’We were able to do so in respect of cheese,” said Mr Marshall, "but the estimated requirements of our regular customers in other countries and the quantities which were already under offer in Europe prevented our agree(ng to ship more than 87J per cent, of □utter.”

It was clear, Mr Marshall said, that New Zealand could eell to countries other than the United Kingdom greater quantities of butter than had been reserved from production from August 1, 1552, to July 31, 1953 The needs of Britain, New Zealand’s main customer, and her agreement to the maximum price increase under the contract, justified the action taken by the delegation in meeting the request rcentage quantities to the extent agreed upon. ‘‘All the skim milk powder which we are likely to have available from the new season will be readily accepted,” said Mr Marshall, “and the higher pr « 9 L wl . ll help producers to meet inevitable increases in costs, * arrangements made for the United Kingdom to take large additional quantities of spray skim milk powder for the 1953-54 and 1554-5 S seasons will provide a market for a large portion of the output of new fac"t ln production and ensure additional overseas income from milk products.” Mr Marshall said it should be noted that the quantities agreed upon were the maximum the purchasing counvance Were prepared t 0 bu y « ad-

DAIRY SALES TO AMERICA

Problem Of Retaining N.Z. Market

MR W. MARSHALL’S VIEWS

(New Zealand Press Association) a u e AUCKLAND, August 3. Sectional interests in the United States were still complaining bitterly about the admission of milk powder from other countries, and New Zealand must be on the alert to do its utmost to keep the market open, said Mr W. Marshall, chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Products Marketing Commission, on his return from overseas to-night. New legislation controlling imports of dairy produce into the United States, which had become effective on July 1, 1952, did not materially alter the position for New Zealand, said Mr Marshall. It had looked for a time as if cheddar cheese imports would be reduced, and whole milk and buttermilk powders would be excluded altogether. The Administration was able to prevent this from occurring, and valuable assistance had been given by the New Zealand Embassy ip Washington, Mr Marshall said. The New Zealand Ambassador (Mr L. K. Munro) and his Commercial Counsellor were fully informed of the facts, and would do all they could. "It is confidently expected that New Zealand will ship to the United States greater quantities of whole milk and buttermilk powders from the coming season’s production.” Mr Marshall said.