Need For Alternative Markets For N.Z. Meat

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28450, 3 December 1957, Page 17

Need For Alternative Markets For N.Z. Meat

New Zealand should hold fast to her market for meat outside the United Kingdom, Sir Walter Mulholland, a member of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, told farmers attending the- North Canterbury district export lamb competition. “Unless we can dispose of a reasonable quantity of our meat otherwise than in Britain, I cannot see a very rosy future ahead of us,” he said. Sir Walter Mulholland said that at present representatives of the New Zealand Government and farmers were in London discussing trade problems. The major

fact that they had to take cognisance of was that the products that New Zealand could produce to such advantage were now in more adequate supply on the British market. At present, the position was not so acute with meat, largely because meat exporters in co-operation with the Meat Board had been successful in obtaining other markets for meat that were no so readily saleable in Britain. In this respect New Zealand had obtained markets in countries that she wds not in the habit of trading with —Japan and other Far Eastern countries, America and certain

countries in Europe, including some behind the Iron Curtain. It was important that New Zealand should hold that trade, said Sir Walter Mulholland. “I want to put before you the necessity of making arrangements to allow that trade to continue.”

During the last year, certain countries with which New Zealand did trade had made it clear that they could not trade with this country unless New Zealand also took their goods. International trade was a species of bargaining and money was only used for the purposes of accounting. New Zealand could not, however, send its goods overseas unless it received payment for them; otherwise its economy would soon be in trouble.

“We have got to take some earnest consideration of that exchange position, which could get us into trouble,” he said. Relations with Japan

Sir Walter Mulholland said he had been disturbed to see a suggestion that New Zealand should give the Japanese Prime Minister and his party a cold reception when they came to this country. If this was to be New Zealand’s attitude, New Zealanders could start immediately to reduce their standard of living—in fact, they would not have to do it as it would be done for them. “Our standard of living depends on our ability to trade with those countries which are willing to trade with us,” he said. The meat trade was now in the throes of fierce international competition. New Zealand’s answer to that competition was the quality of its products. New Zealand had the goods available of the quality required, but it remained for that quality to be maintained.

Sir Walter Mulholland said the processing side of the frozen meat industry was keenly interested in keeping abreast with the latest developments. Not much had been heard publicly of the Meat Research Institute whLh had been set up by the meat exporters and the Meat Board and which was now being staffed with the best brains available in New' Zealand and overseas. It was proceeding to the establishment of suitable laboratories which might ultimately cost between £50,000 and £ 100,000. The whole object of the institute was to put a better product on the market—not only to help New Zealand to hold the place it occupied at present, for undoubtedly as far as lamb was concerned it was at the head of the world, but also to keep it moving still further ahead. Not Good Enough Mr C. H. Bethell, president of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association, said that unfortunately an attitude of mind had arisen in New Zealand—that of “she’ll do.” If New Zealand was going to sell her meat throughout the world at the best possible price, “she’ll do” was hot good enough. Mr Bethell said the new buildings and modern facilities that farmers were seeing at the freezing works where the' competition was being held showed what this freezing company was doing to keep the industry at the top of the tree.