N.Z. PRODUCE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 65, 14 September 1926, Page 8

N.Z. PRODUCE

PRESENT POSITION AND OUTLOOK

QUALITY OF VITAL IMPORTANCE

STATEMENT BY SIR JAMES . ALLEN.

Sir James Allen, after an absence of six years, during which he has been High. Commissioner for New I'esilaiHl in London, returned -to V/ellington by the Limited ex press to-day. Ho was a passenger by the Aoningi, and came South last night in order to sec the Prime Minister before his departure for. London by the Makura this even-

Alluding to the commercial outlook in Great Britain, more especially as it is likely to affect New Zealand. produce, Sir James Allen remarked to-day that it was not only the working man who is suffering in Great Britain as a result of the coal strike. Everybody is suffering'from lack of vigour in industry generally. A good many people are becoming cautious, and are not spending what they did. The purchasing power of the people had considerably decreased, with the result that they were not rsing as much of our lamb, butter, and apples as they formerly did. The depression had very seriously hampered the power of consumption.

SIR JAMES ALLEN.

"At one time, before the strike," said Sir James, "it looked as if our apple iuclustry would this year have been put on a more ov less sound economic basis, "but tho strike has thrown the industry completely back again. The.result will be, I am afraid, that the Government will have to pay the guarantee this year. We were hoping this year to get rid of that obligation. The New Zealand apple business was doing very well until the unfortunate occurrence I have alluded to. Tho arsenic scare, too, caused a lot of trouble, but even that mostly affected American apples. Of course, the sale of the New Zealand fruit suffered also to some extent. .

DAIRY INDUSTRY.

"In regard to the dairy industry, there is another factor to be taken into account. The New Zealand butter trade is in a transition stage. The Dairy Export Control Board has not yet established a fixed policy such as has been reached by the Moat Control Board. The result is that merchants do not yet know quite where they are. I think there is some hesitation in dealing in New Zealand butter. Those who are selling privately from the cold stores or holding on in order to get better prices are doing great damage to the trade, in my judgment. It is true that butter can be stored for some time without much deterioration, but the best policy to adopt in the circumstances is to get it on the market as soon after it is landed as possible. I am not blaming tho Control Board, because it is not in operation yet, but private people and the speculator are, I think,. to blame for a good deal of the criticism of New Zealand butter, that it has been kept too long and has deteriorated. I am certain that the soundest policy to adopt in the case of butter which has been carried so far is to get.it on the market and consumed as soon as possible.

NEW ZEALAND MEAT.

"The outlook for tho New Zealand meat ;trade is, I think, satisfactory. That trade, in my judgment, is being very well managed through the Meat Control Board. Tho only difficulty, as I have already indicated, is the lessened purchasing power of the people of Great Britain. In my opinion, the distribution of our lamb and mutton is being well conducted, and at present there is no fear of successful competition. There is the Argentine, of course; but if our people maintain the high quality of lamb and mutton, I see no reason why New Zealand in this respect should not hold its foremost position."

Eeverting again to butter, Sir James remarked that Australia is coining on well in regard to this branch of the dairy industry, and he thought that the competition is going to be greater than it has been. The Argentine, he added, is now sending butter to the English market. Butter is also beginning to come in from Russia, but lie did not think it of very good quality.

"QUALITY THE MAIN THING."

'' Quality is the main thing,'' said Sir James, with emphasis. The best advertisement New Zealand has got is the high quality, superior grading, and packing of its butter.

"The quality of our apples has improved, and is now quite good. Take it altogether, our apples are, I think, the best that come into the British market from abroad, with the exception possibly of some picked varieties from America. However, I think the English public will sooner take New Zealand apples than American. We have been trying to cultivate the Empire spirit, r.nd I think that is having an effect on our produce.