N.Z. PRODUCE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 124, 29 May 1925, Page 8

N.Z. PRODUCE

AND THE LONDON,MARKET

STATEMENT BY SIR, T.

MACKENZIE.

Sir Thomas Mackenzie, M.L.C., was a passenger by the Rotorua which arrived from London to-day.

Curing his visit to Great Britain Sir Thomas Mackenzie had considerable opportunity of getting a grasp of commercial questions, especially as they affect the Dominion and its relation with Great Britain. He attended a conference at Brussels on commerce, and took part m the Inter-Imperial Conference on Commercial, Subjects held at the Guildiall, .London. He was also present at the Wool Conference .at Bradford., and the International Refrigeration Conference- m London. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, who is a vice-president of the Infcrnational Refrigeration Association, of which he was president for four years was invited to attend a conference- at Koine, but was unable to do so owing to his early return to New Zealand. fair Thomas Mackenzie, after remarking that having just concluded a sea voyage he was not familiar with the latest phases of commercial matters, but statistically the position of wool was exceedingly strong. Recently an authority m London stated that tho consumption of wool in 1924 was three hundred million pounds above the world's production for 1923. At an important wool conference held at Bradford some months ago it was stated prices were above prontable manufacture. Another 'authority m describing the set-back in commerce in Britain, remarked 4 that wool tissue showed a large increase. The exports of wool tissue declined 10 per cent., whereas other industries had declined enormously. - For instance, .- the exports of machinery m 1924 were only 67 per cent, of the 1913 volume, cotton yarns 77 per cent., and cotton piece goods 63 per cent. He expressed his faith in the future of wool. He said that what was wanted was a world's agricultural census not only of present and prospective production, but also of goods in store. The'latter information it -was also difficult to obtain, and it was'the uncertainty of this factor which made forecast so difficult.

The meat situation, he said was exceedingly good. There were 50,000 tons less of frozen meat imported into Great Britain in 1924 than in the previous year. There was a reduction of 13 per cent, in lamb and mutton, and frozen beef 17 per cent., whilst chilled beef increased 8 per cent. QUICKER COMMUNICATION.

"This," said Sir Thomas, "brings up another very important point, and that 13 the question of quicker steam communication between New Zealand and the Old Country. As I have stated chilled beef has increased by 8 per cent! The getting of chilled" beef on the Home market is of great importance to us. I think the producing interests of New Zealand should combine their shipping contracts, and ask for speedier communication with Britain. It should be possible to get a 30 days' service. Naturally the shipping companies would require to get fairly long contracts with respect to our meat, dairy, and other exports. The terms would have to be fair and equitable to both the producing in-' terests and the shipping companies. I feel very strongly in regard to the importance of speedier communication. This country stands exceedingly high in regard to its attractiveness, not only for settlement,. but also for tourists No country in the world can offer the same delightful scenic attractions that we can Speaking of the butter market, Sir Xhomas Mackenzie said that Denmark had lessened her competition with.us, owing to her increased exports* to Germany. At least, that was the position when he came away. Ho observed in a commercial paper, however, that it was expected that Siberia would place in 1926 about 50,000 tons of, butter on the London market. "We do not," he said, stand in as strong a position in respect to dairy produce, as we do in regard to mutton and lamb. This is a matter that requires exceedingly careful handling, the control and. marketing of our butter"