BUSINESS OUTLOOK

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 58, 5 February 1927, Page 13

BUSINESS OUTLOOK

„ MINISTER’S OPINION. Per Press Association. NELSON, Feb. 3. Referring in his speech at the opening of the Takaka Show to-day to the business outlook for the future, tho Hon. G. J. Anderson said he thought tho prospects were good. While fancy prices did not rule, yet tho various markets for dairying products were firm, and farmers could produce butter and cheese and wool on a definite paying basis. The new solidity that was apparent in the markets precluded speculation or deflation in land. Concerning trade from a broader point of view, the Minister said that unless our exports were at least seven millions in excess of our imports the country, was not prospo/ing. It was therefore necessary to foster tho goodwill of our best customer —Britain —by purchasing her goods wherever possible. We should buy British cars and not purchase from America, who dealt with us to a very small extent, and had prevented us having a market in that country by imposing a heavy protective tariff on our goods. Many ill-advised critics were urging the Government to bring in for settlement largo areas of poor third and fourth class land, but it was the Government’s policy to keep men at present on tho land on their holdings, and not open up the difficulty of making it pay. One form of assistance being given in this direction was by , the Government’s endeavour to supply tire farmers with manure as cheaply as possible. The Cawthron Institute in Nelson was also doing important work that would bo of great benefit to settlers.