VALUABLE DATA

Grey River Argus, 6 August 1937, Page 5

VALUABLE DATA

Mr Nash's Mission TRADE AND ADMINISTRATION. [Special Correspondent] LONDON, July 7. New Zealand will gain much from the wealth of first-hand knowledge acquired in the past few months by its Minister of Finance and Minister of Marketing, Hon. Walter Nash. As a result of his study of conditions and the systems adopted in the United Kingdom and in parts of Europe, no Minister could be better equipped to deal with the Dominion’s problems and evolve methods to assist in their amelioration or solution. Mr Nash’s trip has been no holiday. From the day of his arrival from New Zealand until his departure last Saturday the Minister worked harder than any person could normally have been expected to work. Mr Nasn always had time to receive those who came to talk business with him; others were courteously received but their stay was seldom long. Whenever the Minister left London, or lunched or dined out, business was almost invariably in the background. And those who are familiar with the ways of Londoners will know the amount of business that is done over a luncheon or a dinner table. The Minister is now on the Atlantic en route to New Zealand, but he is Gtill the Dominion’s ambassador of trade and will remain in this role until he joins the Mataroa at Panama, on July 23. At Ottawa he has to resume discussions began last November and postponed until after tne Imperial Conference. At Washington and Panama trade relations with New Zealand will be under discussion. The marketing of the Dominion's primary produce in the United Kingdom occupied much of the Minister’s time here. The work took two forms, firstly, negotiations with, the British Government for a regulated expansion of trade on a reciprocal basis; secondly, an investigation of the handling of New Zealand produce in the United Kingdom. New Zealand’s proposals for an extension of the trade between the two countries were placed oefore the British Government shortly after Mr Nash’s arrival, and discussions were begun at the Dominion’s Office, Downing Street. Progress, however, was unexpectedly delayed by the constitutional crisis in December, and there was another unavoidable delay over the Christmas and New Year season. The discussions were resumed later, but further delay was caused by the necessity of making preparations for the Imperial Conference.

The position now is that consideration is being given by the British Government to certain aspects of the Dominion’s proposals. The discussions are still in a negotiable form, and are likely to be for a month or two yet.

The number of stages through which negotiations lor a trade agreement must pass are often not lully realised. For instance, in the case of the Canadian agreement the discussions were carried on every day for four months before finality was reached.

The meat agreement, which involved discussions between Mr Nash and the British Government over the fixation of the quota of New Zealand mutton and lamb for this year, has already been announced. In - these two export lines tne Minister obtained a limit higher than any previously granted to the Dominion. New Zealand’s trade relations with France, Holland, Germany and Russia have also been examined by Mr Nash. At present the Dominion sells to the Continent mainly wool, a considerable proportion of which is re-exported from England. It is hoped that as a result of recent discussions a trade agreement will be arranged with Germany- c . T While the trade aspects of New Zealand’s policy have been placed before the British Government in detail, the Minister has done a great deal towards making the people ot the United Kingdom conversant with recent Dominion legislation. Mr Nash has spoken frequently at gatherings representative of all sections of the community and has been reported freely in the press, particularly in the provinces. In the past few months a thorough investigation of the handling of New Zealand meat, dairy produce, fruit and honey has been made. The survey is probably the most complete, on record. it has involved an examination of the whole distributive system, witn a view to ensuring that the producer is receiving his fair share of the market price, and the effectiveness of publicity in the retail fields. Cold storage and handling facilities at the ports of Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and Bristol, each of which is Geeking larger direct shipments,, were inspected. The success which has attended the activities of the C.W.S. in this country led Mr Nash to an investigation of the whole held of co-operation, from the point of view of marketing us well as production. The co-opera-i tive dairy factory system in the Dominion provided the., Minister with a I good background in his approach to this question, which was discussed with Professor C. R. Fay and the Manchester head office officials of the C.W.S. . , Various aspects of national finance have naturally interested Mr Nash. In addition to ■ the methods that have been adopted in Great Britain, certain principles applicable to Denmark, Holland, Germany and Russia have also been studied. . . In the field of banking, the Minister took advantage of his visit to the Midlands in February to obtain particulars of the Birmingham Municipal Bank, a very successrul institution. The willingness of the British Government to pass on the benefits of i experience to Dominion Ministers has j always been appreciated. One memI ber of the delegation has spent much time studying various aspects of administration and has included in his report a surve yof the principles adopted in taxation. National health insurance has also been completely ■ surveyed. An interesting study on the economic side has been the examination of measures being taken in Great Britain, to counteract the next depression. Economists of note agree that there is going to be another depression, and most predictions as to time range trom 1939 to 1940, assuming a war does .not intervene. One economist sees reason to believe that hard times will begin again next year. Concern is not restricted to econo-

mists. The British Government, and many local authorities and industrialists are already acting to counteract the future slackening in the pace of ' rearmament and the building boom. Mr Nash has been given a full opportunity of studying the measures that are being'taken. Ano'her aspect of the work of the delegation has been a comprehensive series of inquiries directed at finding industries most suitable for establishment in New Zealand. The inquiries have mostlj' been of a conditional nature, and no statement can be made as to their form as they will be the subject of a detailed report to the Government. Reports on housing and adult education will also be submitted.

Although the delegation’s visit to the United Kingdom was concerned primarily with trade, it also formed an important part of New Zealand’s representation at the Imperial Conference. Together with the Prime Minister, Mr Nash spent four busy weeks attending meetings of principal delegates and special committees. At the same time the Minister and his staff had to continue as far as possible the inquiries upon the subjects that have already been referred to in this article.

Mr Nash’s mission has now ended. No previous delegation from the Dominion to the United Kingdom has covered so wide a held of inquiry. Its benefits to a country so completely isolated as New Zealand cannot fairly be disputed. Visit to Factories LAST ACTIVITIES IN ENGIAND OF THE PRIME MNSTER. [Special Correspondent] LONDON, June 21. Before he left London for 'New Zealand, the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) was able to pay a visit to the works of the Electrical and Musical Industries Company Ltd. at Hayes, near London. The works are better known as the headquarters of His Master's Voice records and radio sets and apparatus. Actually in the vast area of the factories, which cover 60 acres, other branches' of activities are carried on, especially the manufacture of Marconi “Emi” television sets, and, since the new defence policy was inaugurated, certain parts of the factories have been" adapted for the manufacture of war munitions and the necessary machinery has been installed. Altogether at peak periods —which in respect to gramophone sets and records and wireless sets are the winter months—some 10,000 persons are employed. The number has even reached 15,000; at other times it has fallen to 7,000. The aim of the Company is to provide other forms of employment to absorb the seasonal hands, and with this aim in view a cycle manufacture department is to be added.

Mr Savage was met on his arrival by Sir Louis Sterling, the Managing Director, and by the heads of the various departments, and factorj managers. He was first shown the television section, and informed that the ; instruments manufactured by this Company had been adapted by the British Broadcasting Corporation in preference to all other inventions for their television station at Alexandra Palace, London. Mr Savage was particularly interested in the explanations of the system of television and its projection and recording, and also in the screen and sound reception which was demonstrated, the reception being from the Alexandra Palace, nearly 20 miles away. He was told that the firm had spent from £60,000 to £BO,OOO on television research. The Prime Minister also saw the other activities of the Company, particularly the production of radio sets and gramophone records. Of records, 100,000 are made per day in the peak periods, and 300,000 radio sets of. all kinds are turned out per annum. The factories are run on highly organised lines and are modern in every respect. The conditions of labour are also excellent. Mr. Savage subsequently expressed himself very pleased with his experience.

MILK CONTAINERS. A NEW INDUSTRY. By leaving his hotel early in tl.<= morning, Mr Savage was able to spare a couple of hours in a quick run by car to see the new industry of manufacturing “Satona” milk containers from light cardboard material, and their utilisation in the distribution of milk. The place visited was Mortlock’s Dairies at Manor Park East London, and Mr. William Higgins of Wellington ■ arranged the visit. . . , The process is most ingenious. The containers, cut to hold pints and hallpints of milk, are not touched b. hand after they once are placed m fiat bundles on the machine, fhe,. are shaped, individually opened out, sealed at the bottom, waxed all ovei with hot sterilised paraffin wax whic.i is afterwards rapidly dried and hardened, and they then pass <V to be automatically filled from auove by milk are hermetically sealed, ana auietly deposited in boxes ready for delivery. The output of the machines is from 35 to 40 containers per minute. This form of distributing fresh milk, it is stated, is rapidly replacing the old bottle system, for the reason that it is cheaper and more rapid, and because when the carton is emptied it can be thrown away, whereas bottles have to be sterilised and used again. Needless to say Mr Savage was extremely interested m the system.