NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE AT HOME.

Evening Star, Issue 19128, 21 December 1925, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE AT HOME.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —The British Empire Exhibition at Wembley enabled millions ol visitors from British provincial centres to sec, collectively and for the first time, something of the wonderful resources of the overseas dominions, and the British Government has voted a million pounds for advertising and encouraging Empire trade, and. through the Imperial Economic Council, will deal first .with foodstuffs Arrangements have hocn made for a “shopping week ” in all the principal British towns, when Empiregrown products will bo specially displayed with a view to stimulating the demand, and a touring Exhibition is also being organised by the Overseas Fanners’ Federation, which will visit the chief centres of population lor the purpose of displaying produce from the overseas dominions.

Although these special efforts to increase and popularise demand are excellent in their way, they do not overcome the fundamental handicap which the hulk of New Zealand produce has hitherto had to overcome in reaching northern and midland markets in Great Britain, hy reason of marketing being controlled by those whose in tores! s are not necessarily identical with thoseof the producers, and by distribution through the more or loss restricted bottle-neck which shipment to London involves. There ' are approximately forty-six millions of people in Groat Britain, and the 'requirements of at least three-fourths of the number could he supplied more economically and efficiently hy distribution from such ports as are situated nearest to thc/'onsumers in their respective areas, instead qt following the obsolete system of distributing everything through one port—situated so distant from the hulk of. the consumers that an enormous bill for handling and transport charges is inevitable. Having had the administrative control of the markets of one ol the biggest provincial centres in the North ol England for many y r ears, I affirm without fear of contradiction that it is exceptional to hoar New Zealand dairy produce mentioned, or see it displayed in the shops in that area, although many’ thousands of tons have been shipped to London during the past twenty-five to thirty years;.the opportunities for its sale have always been present, but have not boon fully exploited, and the “good-will” which should have been created Jong ago in the shape of a constant demand is still lacking. The fact that it is hoped to stimulate such demand hy means of the special efforts previously mentioned, is a confession that more could have been done in this connection by the interests which have hitherto had the monopoly of handling the produce, whilst the present movement demonstrates a lack of confidence in the methods‘adopted hy the vested interests which have held a monopoly of the trade for so long. The present wave of Imperial sentiment in Great Britain ensures that produce from the overseas dominions will lie favorably received wherever it is shown, provided quality, etc., arc satisfactory and continuous supplies are assured,and Empire producers arc offered a golden opportunity .of securing and consolidating a lugger share ol the trade in British provincial markets. It is up to them to take advantage of the present opportunity to the full, and so secure that share of the trade in “British provincial markets to which they have always been entitled on the merits of their products.—l am, etc.,

AVm. Jno. Wadi:, Representative, Manchester Ship Canal Co Sydney, December 5.