HARMFUL PUBLICITY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22289, 26 March 1947, Page 4

HARMFUL PUBLICITY

INCIDENTS IN BRITAIN

COUNTER-ACTION NEEDED

(Special Correspondent.) (10 a.m.) LONDON, March 26. Whether or not the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board makes a statement in New Zealand on the reasons for the refusal of British butchers to handle a consignment of New Zealand boneless beef, the New Zealand Government or the board or both should make some statement to the British public as soon as possible. In fact no explanation of this and a previous incident has been given and the sort of thing that is occurring is a question asked at Dundee.

A special committee of housewives, who have been critical of the British Government’s food policy, attended a meeting at which Mr. T. F. Cook, Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade and Miss Grace Colman, M.P., were present. “Buy What Meat We Can”

One housewife asked why the British Government bought poor quality meat, New Zealand boneless meat and frozen goat.

Miss Colman replied: "The answer is we have to buy what meat we can.” This type of publicity cannot do other than harm to New Zealand’s hitherto carefully guarded and maintained name for high quality meat and other foods. It may wipe out much of the effects of the recent advertising campaigns to keep the qualities of New Zealand goods before the British people, the expense of which is borne by New Zealand.

It overlooks entirely the fact that only a small percentage of the meat for manufacturing purposes has been distributed for the domestic ration and does nothing to emphasise that the main supply of New Zealand meat to the British market maintains its high quality. Yet there are apparently difficulties to overcome before any explanation can be nfede to the British public—or to New Zealand for that matter.