MARKETING PLANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22618, 5 January 1937, Page 9

MARKETING PLANS

MR. NASH IN LONDON SOME FRIENDLY CRITICISM [from OCR own correspondent] LONDON", Dec. 12 Some of the first public criticisms of the marketing proposals of the New Zealand Government as expounded by Mr. Walter Nash, Minister of Finance and Marketing, were heard after he had addressed the Royal Empire Society. They were friendly criticisms and in no way disparaged the plan proposed by the Minister, of whom it was declared that he was no Socialist, but a social reformer. Mr. Nash told of the purpose of his mission to England—to ask for an expanding market for New Zealand's produce and an agreement for reciprocal trade—and explained the objectives of his Government to raise the standard of living. He said production would be guided to serve the highest ends of consumption, and not left to serve the needs of consumers incidentally. Several Views Expressed After the address. Lord Blpdisloe, who presided, invited several prominent people in the audience to express their views, according to the custom observed by the society. The first of those whom he called upon was Sir John Wardlew-Milne, M.P., who said he agreed with almost everything that Mr. Nash had said. He was certain that the kind of Socialism the New Zealand Minister preached would appeal to every man and woman in the United Kingdom. But he thought that Mr. Nash would have to bear in mind —and no doubt he did —the question of currency, which was at the root of most of industrial troubles. Sir James Leigh-Wood, while appraising the scheme, said he had some doubts as to its application. Lord Eltislev said Mr. Nash was certainly one of the most persuasive people he had met, for he had the ability to put his case in a most convincing way. Agriculture, he continued, was the basis of the world's industrial and economic prosperity. Britain, which was about to embark upon a policy of raising the physical fitness of its people, had formulated au agricultural policy which put the English farmer first, the Dominion producer second, and the rest "elsewhere." Part for Dominions Britain believed that the Dominions could do much to assist her with her "nutrition" policy, for more of the essential foodstuffs were required, added Lord Eltisley. Sho would certainly see that the Dominions would have first place after her own producers. He would like Mr. Nash to bear in mind that, while Britain was thinking of her manufacturers, she was also thinking of her agriculturists. Lord Bledisloe advanced the same suggestion that ho made on the occasion of the New Zealand Society's luncheon to Mr. W. J. Jordan —the formation of a consultative committee to advise upon the particular commodities which each Dominion was best able to produce and then to allocate a portion to each. Sir Archibald Weigall, chairman of the society, said Mr. Nash's address had inspired him more than any he had heard given to the society in the . ® ' ten years. It was, in fact, an of adult education such as he . never enjoyed under the auspic«» the society. AUCKLAND >gj| PUSJUC Lia* AfS • H