‘Export Conference Emphasised Farming

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30153, 10 June 1963, Page 13

‘Export Conference Emphasised Farming

Many people seemed to think the Export Development Conference was mainly, if not entirely, concerned with the production and export of manufactured consumer goods, said a member of the Trade Promotion Council, Mr S. E. Mair, of Christchurch, yesterday. This impression was quite erroneous, he said. Mr Mair, who is a director of the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, Ltd., and of Hay's. Ltd., was a delegate to the conference. He said he had discussed the work of the conference with many persons since his return from Wellington, and he felt some had gathered the wrong impression of the conference. “The conference was a hard-working meeting of specialists in a wide range of industrial, commercial and financial activities,” he said. "The Government and officials of the Department of Industries and Commerce deserve great credit for the wonderful organising which produced the conference. “Much publicity has, very rightly, been given to ways

and means to stimulate the export of manufacturers, but the conference also emphasised that a quick increase in the production for export of farm and forest pro. ducts is essential. Disincentives To Farmers

“Some of the most important recommendations of the conference have, as their objective, the removal of current disincentives to farm production. These are of real interest to Canterbury. "The facts are that a 5 per cent, increase in the volume of farm and forest production for export, at about today’s prices, will produce an additional £l4m to £lsm a year in overseas funds; this can be accomplished in a season or two,” Mr Mair said. “It would be necessary to double the exports of all other products to earn about the same amount in overseas funds. I believe this will be achieved —but it will take much longer than a 5 per cent, increase in farm and forest production. “In the short term, which is so important, increased farm production is essential, and the conference emphasised this every bit as much as the need to develop other production for export,” Mr Mair concluded.