Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, MARCH 4, 1935. TRADE QUESTIONS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 81, 4 March 1935, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, MARCH 4, 1935. TRADE QUESTIONS.

The promise of Lord Bledisloe that on his return to England he will assist in smoothing out any difficulties that may arise between the Dominion and the Old Country in the matter of trade should be readily accepted. His Excellency’s extensive knowledge of farming in the Homeland and of the difficulties that beset the producers there, and his ready and sympathetic consideration of New Zealand’s problems, arising from the British Government’s planned agricultural policy, should be of considerable value to the authorities at Home in an advisory capacity. Britain’s right to improve the lot of her farmers has never been questioned in this Dominion, which rightly claims that the fullest consideration should be given to her position as a foremost exporter of primary products to the world’s greatest market, and to the effect restricted exports would have upon her ability to meet interest payments on loans to British investors. Lord Bledisloe stated the position when he said that we depend to the extent of more than 70 per cent, of our exports of primary produce on the British market, with no other possession of the Crown being dependent to even half that quantity. With other markets practically closed at this time to New Zealand, her position warrants the most sympathetic consideration of Britain’s Cabinet. We supply the largest quantity of mutton and lamb to Britain and last year displaced Denmark from first position in butter shipments. The income from these exports enables New Zealand to meet her obligations in interest payments to Britain and also to finance her purchases of British goods. This trade is also responsible for activity in the shipbuilding yards at Home in building ships for the service between both countries. Last year ten new ships to carry cargo, totalling over 100,000 tons and costing <£5,000,000, were built for the trade between the United Kingdom and Aiistralia and New Zealand, and it has been rightly pointed out that Danish butter sold in Britain does _ not provide orders for British ships and very little revenue in freight. It was only when Denmark was faced with the question that she signed a trade agreement with Britain extending her purchases of British goods; but she still sells much more than she buys. That is also correct of New Zealand who, according to the British Board of Trade’s Journal, supplied 5.52 percent. of Britain’s imports and took only 2.88 per cent, of her exports. The latter figures, however, apparently omit the value of this Dominion’s invisible imports—interest payments on the national debt, freights and insurance, etc. —and re-exports. Nevertheless, the.people of New Zealand could very well give greater consideration to the question, and divert much of the trade that now goes to countries which take as little as possible of the produce that we have for export. On the question of quality, Lord Bledisloe offered sound advice. The best of our dairy produce, he said, is better than the best of Denmark’s, but the uniformity of quality of the Danish product places New Zealand at a disadvantage on the British market. He stressed the very important fact that this deficiency in uniform excellent quality must be overcome, so that our butter would not be at a disadvantage in competition with Danish. This

is one of the serious questions before the Executive Commission of Agriculture, and only rigid observance of all the factors from the farm to the manufacture of produce will cure the defects which prevent producers from securing the highest price possible for their best quality butter. Admittedly much has been done to achieve this end, but the effort cannot be relaxed. The aim should be to export butter of superfine quality only and with its attainment, which should not perhaps be impossible, the disparity between the prices received by New Zealand and Denmark should be overcome.