OUR OVERSEAS MARKETS

Evening Star, Issue 22718, 4 August 1937, Page 2

OUR OVERSEAS MARKETS

PRIME MINISTER'S OPINIONS MORE PUBLICITY WANTED [Special to the ‘ Star.’! WELLINGTON, August 3. Views about the prospects for New Zealand meat, wool, and dairy products iu the Home market were expressed by the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon, M. J. Savage) in an interview with your correspondent, who commenced by asking whether during his English visit he found any difficulties arising over the institution of the State control over marketing of New Zealand dairy products. “ There is no doubt about the success of the present marketing arrangements for our dairy products,” replied the Prime Minister. ” There has been a big improvement, and it is only just a. question as to how far we can further improve on things.” “ No prejudices to overcome with the trade? ” Mr Savage was asked. “ No, the impression I got,” he replied, “ was that they were anxious to buy our products, not only because they are good, but because of the conditions under which, they are produced. People who are nob Labour people told me, without being asked for it, that New Zealand butter, particularly in the winter time, is superior to anything on the British market. MORE ADVERTISING, “ I think the sale of our products depends largely on the publicity we can give, not oxuy to the fact that they are of first class quality, hut also on account of the conditions under which they are produced. We will have to explain from the milking of the cows to putting the butter and cheese, and the meat, on the boats, giving the people of England an opportunity of hearing about these things. They should know about the wages paid, the conditions of labour, as well as the splendid climate for production, for these things make an appeal to the rank arid file of the British people, the millions of consumers who really count iri the finish when demand is required for products. “ Signs of opposition to our marketing plan? ” continued the Prime Minister, reverting to a previous question, “ They are handling our produce very well. I came into contact with many rer presentatives of the dairy merchants, and found nothing hut goodwill. Mr Nash has been discussing things at length with the Tooley Street people, and we saw nothing but a desire to do the best for New Zealand. I went through Smithfield with Mr Forsyth,, the Meat Board’s London representative, and it was ‘ Bob ’ all the time, and if anyone knows his job it is ‘ Bob ’ Forsyth. THE WOOL OUTLOOK. “ Of course, nobody knows whether present prices of wool will hold,” continued Mr Savage in reply to a question. “My own opinion has been expressed before, that the world has been practically in rags, and we know what that has meant in New Zealand. There was not much wool used, but now people have set out to clothe themselves, and prices have improved, though just how long high prices will hold one cannot tell. I think it is possible to have a price paid for wool, just the same as for butter and cheese, which will enable the wool producers to have prosperity, not in splashes, but prosperity as a stable thing. I see no reason why prices should fall unless the fear of war is holding them, for the position of trade generally seems more stable than it has been for many years. We have had temporary rises here and there, but this looks like a genuine turn for the better all round.”