Marketing chair sought by assn

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32977, 25 July 1972, Page 14

Marketing chair sought by assn

A chair in marketing: should be established in New Zealand, said the president of the Canterbury Sales and Marketing Executives’ Association (Mr D. W. Stewart) in Christchurch last evening.

In his annual report to the association, Mr Stewart said that there was no such chair at present in any New Zealand university, although one might be established at Victoria. As a consequence, no opportunity was provided for young people to develop academic skills necessary to become efficient marketing executives.

“Our country is becoming increasingly dependent on our ability to sell our goods in the competitive markets of the world if we are to maintain our present standard of living,” he said. “However, we are obviously not satisfied with our present standards as can readily be seen by the constant call for increased wages by most trade unions. If we are to improve our living standards an increase in the export of manufactured goods in excess of sloom per annum must be achieved,” said Mr Stewart.

Mr Stewart said that in order to achieve increased penetration of world markets, New Zealand would need an increasing number of experts in modern marketing techniques, and that one should look to the country’s universities to provide the Courses necessary to achieve this.

Future marketing decisions would have to be made without procrastination because the vast technological advances being made daily would put more and more

pressure on management which, without the tools of modern marketing, could not hope to make the correct decisions, he said. Mr Stewart said it was disturbing to hear prominent Christchurch manufacturers complaining about loss of business, loss of profits, redundant staff because of lack of orders and “a general wailing at the wall of declining business.” “These companies have not been able to face the challenge of competition, or they lack the management and sophisticated marketing techniques that are being Used throughout the world, especially in countries such as Japan, Formosta, the United States, and Italy,” he said.

The Canterbury association supported in principle the formation of a national S.M.E. organisation. The incoming president (Mr L. J. Myers) said that to get the association organised nationally it had been suggested that the vice-presi-dents of the four branches Should meet and form the nucleus of a national executive to discuss polity. At present the membership of the branches was mote than 800.

tile following officers were elected: President, Mr L. J. Myers; vice-president, Mr D. Columbus; directors, Messrs J. Stevens and K. Sketlerup; secretary-treasurer, Mr T. Leighs.