Mr. Johnson Replies to Farmer

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 299, 4 December 1935, Page 8

Mr. Johnson Replies to Farmer

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l read with great interest “Parmer’s” letter in your columns today, and much appreciate the compliment which he pays to our firm. I fully agree that it is up to other English manufacturers to study New Zealand requirements, which, as a matter of fact is the cause of my visit at this moment, and I shall have great pleasure in bringing that message Home. I can assure your correspondent that English manufacturers do not regard the New Zealand market lightly, and 1 feel sure that he must have been very unfortunate in his experience with the lorry. So far as the exchange is concerned it is true that the existing position constitutes a twenty’-five per cent, advantage in favour of Australian goods, which has seriously diverted trade from England to Australia. Naturally this is very worrying to English manufacturers.

Meanwhile it is becoming economically impossible for England, whatever sentiment she may have toward New Zealand, to buy as she has done in the past, unless she also sells. This aspect is a most disturbing factor for one such as myself, who fully appreciates that wire sales depend upon the prosperity of the New Zealand farmer, which in turn, is linked up with the ability of England to lake his produce.—l am, etc., M. A. T. JOHNSON. Napier, December 3.