“NOT ENOUGH N.Z. TRADE POSTS”

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29766, 8 March 1962, Page 7

“NOT ENOUGH N.Z. TRADE POSTS”

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 7. New Zealand meat trade commissioners, trade representatives and counsellors were doing a good job for their country in Soutn-east .Asia, but there were not enough of them, said Mr A I. Paterson, sales manager for Thomas Borthwick and Sons, yesterday when he returned after his third tour of the area in three years. •‘Australia has trade posts at all the meat marketing centres in the Far East.” Mr Paterson said. ‘‘Money spent on .these posts, which importers use as information centres, returns dividends to Australian producers and exporters. “Although we cannot expect a sudden and dramatic increase in trade, the potentials are there to be developed.” he said. A lot of spade work had been done in the area, but close continuing contract and attention to market requirements was needed in each trade centre.

The New Zealand producers had a lot of different problems to meet and overcome in the area. Mr Paterson said. In Singapore, for instance, meat sales would increase if Dominion-bred animals were killed in accordance with Moslem beliefs. Australia was already doing this.

Japanese bought the bulk of their New Zealand mutton sliced into thin wafers. Trading with Guam, where Mr Paterson was greeted as “the first visiting New Zealand meat exporting representative.” was difficult as all cargo going there must be in ships flying the American flag. A certain amount of mutton was sold there after being transhipped from Yokohama

“In other areas of the Far East we nave obtained a foothold. If we are prepared to put in the same amount of hard work in developing them as we have already done. New Zealand producers will reap the benefit,” Mr Paterson said.