N.Z. FOOD EXPORTS

Grey River Argus, 1 July 1944, Page 4

N.Z. FOOD EXPORTS

Four-year Contract FOR PURCHASE BY BRITAIN. (Special to N.Z. Press Assn.) (Rec 10.10.) LONDON. June 30. Rt. Hon. Mr. Fraser, accompanied by Mr. Ashwin and party, have, left England for Canada, where they have arrived. Mr. George Duncan, Director of the Expert Marketing Department, is remaining in the United Kingdom ioi some time. With Mr. H. E. Davies, the Department’s London manager and other New Zealand officials, including Mr. R M. Campbell, he will discuss with the Ministry of Food an, 1 'agreement whereby the United Kingdom Government will purchase New Zealand’s exportable surplus of butter, cheese and meat, under a four-yeai contract. They are constantly m touch with Mr. W. Goodfellow, representing the New Zealand Dany Board, and Mr. N. S. McClumpha, representing the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board. It is not expected that the agreement, will be finally decided for some weeks, when thA details are expected to be announced simultaneously in London, Wellington and Canberra, for Australia is also carrying out similar negotiations. Auslralia’s Wool Trade PESSIMISTIC VIEW REFUTED. (Rec. 9.5.) SYDNEY,/June 30. A statement issued by the National Council of Woolselling /Brokers of Australia declares: Tly recent extremely gloomy views About the future of wool have not ozlv created unwarranted nervousness among sheep owners, but must disturb bankers and other institutions financing woolgrowers. wool clip has been still is, and is/likely to continue, the greatest contributor to the nation’s income frqn exports.” Pointing out t/at after the 1914-18 war the trade/A textiles boomed, the statement ant/npated a similar boom after the pre/ent war, and says that, although th/ accumulated stocks of wool are la/se, to a great extent they are of lowA ra J es - Referring to artificial fibres, the statemen/ says: “We do not desire to mini/ise this competition, but we disdain’ against the continued pessimistic/tterances of a few alarmists. The yoolgrowers, to meet this competit/n, should see that they improve the /Standard of their wool in every , war possible. : Now bringing in over seventy mil- | li/i pounds annuallv. the wool clip I for about half of Australia’s /eport income. Recently the Austra-! /an Wool Growers’ Council has sought I Jto increase the wool research and /publicity levy from sixpence to one ' shilling ner bale. I Sunporting this suggested increase,} the Sydney “Herald” says: The value j of the current levy scheme, instituted i in 1936, has been abundantly demon-i strated. Australia’s vital wool Indus- I try will bp able to meet the new crisis I of synthetic fibres, provided that the } most is made of the opportunities open i for reducing the costs and improving I the oualitv of the natural product.! Full advantage must also be taken of j new processes, such as tho&a for nn- 1 shrinkable woollens. Because of the importance of wool in the national economy, the Government should ac- ; ccede to a reauest for round for pound ■ contribution to an enlarged research ! and publicity fund.”