CONCERN ABOUT N.Z. MARKETING FUTURE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29510, 11 May 1961, Page 16

CONCERN ABOUT N.Z. MARKETING FUTURE

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN, May 10.

Serious concern about New Zealand’s market prospects was expressed by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Hayman) in Dunedin today.

“We have real problems on our hands, but we have had marketing difficulties before and have been able to overcome them,” Mr Hayman said.

A difficult future for the whole country, but one that was not without hope, was

the dominant theme of the new Minister’s address at the opening of the Otago provincial conference of Federated Farmers.

The increasing problems which the farming community of New Zealand was having placed on its plate, were in common with those being experienced by other producing countries in the world, he said. But the thing which should give them some encouragement was that half the population of the world was undernourished and underclad. In these circumstances there should be no doubt what we were going to do with our produce. The world banking system might be one way of overcoming international financial difficulties. “It must be developed in a different way, but a worldwide “clearing house” for finance could open up many new markets.” Referring to the possible effects of the European Economic Community, Mr Hayman said that these were “quite frightening."

“But if we suffer an immediate set back as a result of the E.E.C, we must remember that we will not have any real security in Europe unless the states of that continent are united.”

The Minister said he hoped that in Otago he would merit the support he would need to help solve the difficult problems he faced.