OUR BUTTER

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 83, 9 April 1928, Page 3

OUR BUTTER

. ♦ GROCERS' _EXHIBITION APPEAL TO RETAILERS BY SIR J. PARR (From "Tii6 Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 17th February. Last week the New Zealand Dairy Board opened a campaign of publicity in Leicester and the surrounding district. This was co-incident with the opening of the Grocers' and Allied Traders' Exhibition. The High Commissioner accepted an invitation to attend the inaugural luncheon and to open the exhibition. Sir James Parr was accompanied by Mr. H. E. Davies (London manager of the New Zealand Dairy Board), Mr. H. T. B. Drew. (Government Publicity Officer), and Colonel Hall, where they were• received by the Mayor (Alderman James Thomas). Sir_ Eric Murray (secretary of the Empire League). The party was welcomed on the Midland station by Mr. 11.I1. Pollard (vice-president of the ;Leicester Chamber of Commerce), Mr. Harry Port (secretary of the chamber), Commander C. Hcdley Briggs, M.C., and Mr. Ewart Watson, representing the exhibition. Cars bearing small New -Zealaud flags were waiting outside the station, and the guests were taken to the Town James Parr signed his name .iv the visitors? book on the same page as that 01.. which the Prince of-Wales had recently placed his signature. The High Commissioner evidently knew the history of Leicester, for, in, replying to the Mayor's welcome, he referred to ancient times. ■ . "I am told," he said, "that,; your city was founded -by King Lear, the old fellow who gave away all his property to his two daughters, who then turned round on him and pitched him out. Tliat is a lesson to us not to give away our property for the purpose of evading income tax." The High Commissioner went on to say that he had a sentimental interest in Leicester, as it was on the Eiver Soar, which was a tributary. 'of the Trent, on the banks,of which his father was born, so that he came of Midland stock. NEW ZEALAND DAIRY EXHIBIT. A half an hour was spent in the exhibition before the official luncheon. One. of the most attractive stands was that arranged by the New Zealand Government in combination with the Dairy Board. ' Seeing that only butter and cheese were exhibited, the arrangement of the stand was artistically ciirried out. On one frontage were many fine cheeses interspersed with placards. For instance: "New Zealand's .vast trade with Great Britain in butter and cheese has been built up on excellence of quality," or, "Ask your grocer or dairyman for New Zealand butter and cheese." Similarly, on the other wing, of the stand, ■were cheeses and popular appeals. The front was devoted to butter, of which there wero seven boxes with one surface of the contents.showing through a transparent covering. The fcrnleaf brand was impressed on the surface. Other butter boxes formed the framo of the display. Above was a largo framed transparency showing Government tests being carried out in the Dominion. Other photographs illustrated various phases of dairying, and the exhibit was tastefully set off with vases of flowers. Arrangements were also mado for making up 2oz cartons of butter for sale. In anothor part of the building the Amalgamated Dairies, Ltd., had an exhibit of Anchor brand butter. The stand, vas decorativcly arranged with yellow cartons with green decorations, and hero again cartons of the butter wero for sale. At the inaugural luncheon the Mayor of Leicester proposed the toast, "Empire Trade." After giving an outline of tho High Commit-sionei 's career, he pointed out that New Zealand was the highest buyer (per head of population) of British goods in the world. He said ho would liko to call attention to tho magnificent exhibits of the Government of New Zealand, a display which deserved the attention of the grocers' trade. Sir James, in replying, said that the grocers occupied a very responsible position as tho distributors of Dominion produce. It was through them that the Dominion producers had to reach the consumers. Ho had with him Mr. H. E. Davis, tho manager of tho Now Zcalan/ Dairy Bonrd, who was in this country to got into closa touch with the grocers of England. TRADE WITH THE MOTHERLAND. Continuing, tho High Commissioner said that ho represented a small country, not much bigger than Great Britain, but it claimed to be tho most productive country in tho world. It had a trado of a hundred million pounds per annum, and this development had taken placo in some seventy years. What a testimony to the grit and courage of their pioneer ancestors. No other nation in tho' world could snow such wonders of colonisation as tho Anglo-Saxon race. Of all tho Dominions thero was no moro loyal and affectionate daughter than Now Zealand. Of this trado of 100 millions tho great bulk of it was with the Motherland. Their slogan was to buy within the Empire, even though it cost a little more. New Zealand was ready to pay the price, and ho would fain bolievo that sho still got good valuo for that price. "The goods we get from this country last," said Sir James. "They do not fall to pieces in five or six years. I am suro it is the soundest business to pay tho best price for a good, article. If you would only do that with regard to butter and cheeso you would bo all right. We havo a record second to none. You ought to know that you are not buying water whenl you buy Now Zealand butter. It contains vitamins that make you jump every morning. I am not going to say anything about any other butter but we produce a better article. We make the proud defiance that thero is nothing to touch New Zealand butter. Give it a trial." In this part of the country, Sir James continued, only one' shop out of five stocked New Zealand butter. Yet in London they found that four shops out of five had New Zealand butter, and cheese. "What I want is to see you people take a little interest in' getting our goods, of which there is nono better on the market. I hope when I visit Leicester again that. I shall find an increase in tho number of shops stocking our produce." Speaking of interchange of trade, the High Commissioner wont on to say that more than half the cheese imported to this country came from New Zealand, about a quarter of the butter, and more than half the mutton and lamb that came to this country came from New Zealand. In the Motherland they found the right market for their goods. It was the endeavour of the New Zealand Government and the New Zealand farmer to send no produce that was not of the highest quality. "By sending regular supplies," Sir James added, "we hope to keep our goods before you, and through your generosity to double our trade with you here." GOOD BUSINESS. Australia and New Zealand, with their 7-J million peoplo bought more manufactured goods from Great Britain than any other country on, the globe. These two countries took 84 million pounds' worth of gqods 1 mostlj from

the manufacturing districts. . India took S3 millions, and tho United States, with a population of 120 millions, took only 73 million pounds' worth. Little New Zealand, with its 1J million people bought throe times as much as Kussia did in her best trade years. "What was the moral V asked Sir James. "It is: Seek trade for your own kinsmen. Don't be obsessed by huge populations." In 1913 the Dominions bought from Great Britain 37 per cent, of- her exports. Now, only fourteen years later, the Dominions were buying 49 per cent, of the Roods ne people make their living out of. That was, half their trade exports were taken by the 24 millions of people in other parts of the Empire as against the half taken by the other 400 million people of the globe. Of every pound spent on Dominion produce. 15s came back to Great Britain. Denmark produced excellent butter, but she was not in the running with the Dominions in sticking to Great Britain and helping to fill the British factories with working men and women in full employment. Tho Empire must live together or die together. The Empire mast stand or fall together. "I put it to you," said Sir James, "it is good business apart from affection to buy our stuff so that we can buy your stuff and help you to clear your cities of men and women looking for work or living on the dole." The High Commissioner gavo some figures showing that New Zealand was getting over her temporary depression. While they had cut down imports they had done that with other countries, leaving Great Britain untouched. TRIBUTE FROM HYGIENE EXPERTS. Two other speakers wcro members of tho Institute of Hygiene. Mr. P. B. Tustin, F.8.5an.1., Technical Adviser to the United Dairies, Ltd. referred to the food experiments carried out by the Medical Research-Council with, a number of schoolboys. Those who came out best in the test had been fed on English milk and New Zealand butter. The council had chosen New Zealand butter because there the cows wore out in the open all the year round and the butter contained a greater quantity of vitamins than that made from the milk of cows kept enclosed. Mr. A. Seymour Harding, F.S.S., secretary of the Institute of Hygiene, remarked upon the wonderful improvement that had taken place in-the purity of food during the last fifty years. With regard to the abolition of preservatives, it was interesting to note that before the law was brought into force Australia sent 10 per cent, of her butter to this country, entirely free of preservatives, while New Zealand sent,2o per cent, of her butter free of preservativep Subsequently the High Commissioner opened the exhibition and again emphasised , tho need for fostering Imperial trade. From the exhibition the party went on to tho Chamber of Commerce, where they were entertained at tea, and Sir James spoke on tho policy of the New Zealand Government in buying British goods, the wisdom of reciprocal trade, and of New Zealand commerce generally. . , ■ . Ten minutes after he had finished his speech ho and his party had a hearty send-off at the station. Mr. Davis did not return to London, but went on to •Manchester.