MARKETING DAIRY PRODUCE

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 176, 13 April 1923, Page 5

MARKETING DAIRY PRODUCE

to The Editor. Sir. —With your permission I should 1 like to summarise ■ very briefly tho views 1 have expressed to your representative on the above subject, and to emphasise the suggestion I have already offered concerning the regulation of supplies to the British markets. We have to recognise that New Zealand, in comparison with Denmark and Canada, is at a very great disadvantage in regard to the delivery of dairy produce in London or in any of tho other Home ports. We are. handicapped by the much longer time occupied in transport and by the higher cost. These are factors which always will remain against us in larger or smaller measure.

But against this disadvantage, we have the great advantage of a climate superior to that of either Denmark or Canada. For the production of butter and cheese it is admittedly the best in the world. To the New Zealand primary producer, at any rate, this is a substantial set-off against the advantages enjoyed by his rivals. Our great need to-day is some arrangement by which New Zealand dairy products can be placed upon the British markets at regular and. short intervals the year round. It is delivery’ in this way that gives Canadian and} Danish producers their assured place in the British markets. New Zealand butter and cheese, on ths other hand, goes forward in large quantities in tho flush of the season, in smaller quantities as the season waftes and then ceases altogether. The result is that for a considerable part of the year New Zealand butter is not available to the Homo consumer and in its absence he turns to other brands and loses the New Zealand habit. This has to bo remedied. What are we going to do about it? My own idea is that a small delegation" representative of the various interests concerned should be sent to Canada Denmark, and Great Britain, to study at close quarters the practices and conditions prevailing in these countries. Such a delegation would be warmly received in Great Britain and very "substantial assistance would be volunteered. If a joint effort of this kind were made, with the moral support of the Government, no special legislation would bo required .and the result, I am sure, would be invaluable. There is going to be keen competition for the Home markets and it is imperative that New Zealand should not be beaten in the contest. Shipping remains a very grave problem, and it is only’ by co-ordination on a broad practical basis that tho problem can be solved. —I am, etc., J. B. MacEWAN. Wellington, April 12.