WHAT OF THE FUTURE?

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 431, 23 June 1922, Page 5

WHAT OF THE FUTURE?

PRIME MINISTER’S OBSERVATIONS. HIGH FREIGHTS TRAVERSED. Interesting reference to various matters affecting the welfare of producers was made by the Prime Minister, the Hon. W. F. Massey, in the course of his speech at the A. and P. Association’s smoke concert last evening.

Referring to the Meat Control Board, ho stated that already iis operations had “shaken them up at Home,” and incidentally given the Dominion’s meat a splendid advertisement. One of the smartest men in the Dominion had gone Home to represent the Meat Board'. The Government did not intend to interfere with the hoard’s operations in the slightest way. With the exception of beef, which was not worth shipping, the prices for New Zealand produce were now much the same as before the war, but what about the freights? 'J hey were as high as ICO to 150 per cent, above pre-war level. The cost of production must be reduced, and in this connection freights played an important part. Eor many years London had been New Zealand's only market and this centre had been in need of competition. They had now got that competition in that to-day ships were loading in Now Zealand for Manchester, Bristol, Hull and, occasionally, Glasgow. With these centres waiting for New Zealand produce and corning into competition with each other, the Dominion’s produce was going to attain a higher level than before, All this was necessary because Now Zealand now had competitors such as were never in evidence before the war. The demand for moat during the war gave a tremendous impetus to the -Argentine production, In ordinary slock — beef —tin- Argentine could beat ns. He believed. too, Dial Patagonia, to which in years pasi New Zealand had sent some, of its finest stud sheep, would eventually place In the British market lamb and mutton as good ns New Zealand. A BRIGHT OUTLOOK.

We had to expect competition. Pchaps the day would come when preference would he given by England to produce from the British Dominions. That day had not vet come —he could not say when or whether it would he reached, or* whether it would apply to foodstuffs. The outlook generally was much bet tor and he believed the coming season would he better than last year, ing season would be bettor than last year. North Island growers of crossbred wool could look forward to a hotter price than they had obtained for a number of years past. Ho also thought mutton and lamb prices would ho reasonable —last year’s early slump would not be repeated—and lately his predictions had come (rue. It behoved New Zealand farmers, however, to be careful of the quality of every lino of produce exported. One thing which had pleased him in connection with winter shows vyas that the primary and secondary industries were coming together as, never before. The products of both were being shown together at the various A. and P. Shows. Primary industries had recognised that they could not he prospermia without the secondary industries and vice versa. The people of New Zealand had to get ont ol the slump—they would get out of it quicker if there was loss M-llishiiess—and he was convinced that they were now getting out of their troubles.