MARKETING OF PRODUCTS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29232, 16 June 1960, Page 14

MARKETING OF PRODUCTS

Suggestions To Manufacturers (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 15. One of the tasks before New Zealand manufacturers was to find an overseas market for manufactured products, Mr J. Turnbull (Public Service Association) said to the No. 1 committee at the industrial development conference today. The reason for the success of its primary products on overseas markets was that New Zealand had sold them to people who wanted them. Manufacturers would need to look for a different kind of country which might want their products, and there was a market in the fast-develop-ing countries which had not developed manufacturing industries. They had recently attained nationhood and they would need equipment which New Zealand industry could supply. New Zealand also had to concentrate on its primary products and on processing them to the limit it could achieve. The country should consequently have two aims—to look to the new nations as potential markets and to process primary products to a greater degree. Mr J. W. Rowe (Victoria University of Wellington) said that one reason for not expecting mass manufactured exports, except from forest products, was the discrepancy between costs here and costs overseas. He doubted whether manufacturing exports would be very substantial until inflation was under control

The ability to export fell under several headings, said Mr A. R. Dellow (New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation). First, it depended on growth. For example, in Australia exports were proportionately much more with a population of 10m than they were when the population was sm. Second, the prospects lay with highly capitalised industries. To become an exporter it was essential to have the support of a sound home market Third, the fact that New Zealand followed the example of many other highly industrialised countries and protected its industries had no bearing on what market it would be able to command. Britain had recently opened her doors to goods from other countries, but she had not received extra consideration from those countries.