HIGH COMMISSIONER IN LEICESTER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20380, 11 April 1928, Page 14

HIGH COMMISSIONER IN LEICESTER.

OPENS THE GROCERS* EXHIBITION. NEW ZEALAND BUTTER. APPEAL TO THE RETAILERS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, February 17. Last week the New Zealand Dairy Board opened a campaign of publicity in Leicester and the surrounding district. This was coincident, with the opening of the Grocers and Allied Traders’ Exhibition. The High ’ Commissioner accepted an invitation to • attend the inaugural luncheon and to open the exhibition. Sir James Parr was accompanied by Mr H. E. Davies (London manager of the New Zealand Dairy Board), Mr H. T. B. Drew (Government Publicity Officer), and Colonel Eric Murray (secretary of the Empire League). The party was welcomed on the Midland station by Mr F. Pollard (vice-president of the Leicester Chamber of Commerce), Mr Harry Purt (secretary of the Chamber), Commander C. Hedley Briggs, M.C., and Mr Ewart Watson, representing the Exhibition.

Cars bearing small- New Zealand flags were waiting outside the station, and the guests were taken to the Town Hall, where they were received by the Mayor (Alderman James Thomas). Sir Janies Parr signed his name in the visitors’ book on the same page as that on which the Prince of Wales had recently placed his signature. The High Commissioner evidently knew the history of Leicester, for in replying to the Mayor’s welcome he referred to ancient, times.

“I am told”’ he said, “that your city was founded by King Lear, the old fellow who gave away all his property to his two daughters,'who then turned round on him arid pitched him out. That is a lesson to us not to give away our property for the purpose of evading income tax” The High Commissioner went on to say that he had a sentimental interest in Leicester, as it was on the River Soar, which was a tributary of the Trent, on the banks of which his father was born, so that he came of Midland stock.

NEW ZEALAND DAIRY EXHIBIT. A half hour was spent in the exhibition before the official luncheon. One of the most attractive stands was that arranged by the New Zealand Government in combination with the Dairy Board. Seeing that only butter and cheese were exhibited the arrangement of the stand was artistically carried out. On one frontage were many fine cheeses interspersed with placards. For instance : “ New Zealand’s vast trade with Great Britain in butter and cheese has built up on excellence of quality, or “ Ask your grocer or dairyman lor New Zealand butter and cheese.” Similarly, on the other wing of the stand were cheese and popular appeals. The front was devoted to butter, of which there were seven boxes with one surface of the contents showing through transparent covering. The fern leaf brand was impressed x on the surface. Other butter boxes formed the frame of the display. Above was a large framed transparency showing Government tests being carried out in the Dominion, Other photographs illustrated various phases of dairying, and the exhibit was tastefully set off with vases of flowers. Arrangements were also made for malcine up 2oz cartons of butter for sale. In another part of the building the Amalgamated Dairies, Ltd., had an exhibit of Anchor. Brand butter. The Stand was decora(ively arranged with yellow cartons with green decorations, and here again cartons of the butter were for sale.

At the inaugural luncheon the Mayor of Leicester proposed the toast “Empire Trade.” After giving an outline of the High Commissioner’s career, he pointed out that New Zealand was the highest buyer (per head of population) of British goods in the world. He said ho would like to call attention to the magnificent exhibits of the Government of New Zealand, a display which deserved the attention of the grocers’ trade. ■Sir James, in replying, said that the grocers occupied a very responsible position as the distributors of Dominion produce. It was through them that the Dominion producers had to reach the consumers. He had with him Mr H. E. Davis, the manager of the New Zealand Dairy Board, who was in this country to get into close touch; with the' grocers of England. TRADE WITH THE MOTHERLAND. Continuing, the High Commissioner said that he represented a small country, not much bigger than Great Britain, but it claimed to be the most / productive country in the world. It had a trade of £100,000,000 per annum, and this development had taken place in 70 years. What a testimony to the grit and courage of their pioneer ancestors. No other nation in the world could show such wonders of colonisation as the AngloSaxon race. Of all the dominions there was no more loyal and affectionate daughter than New Zealand. Of this trade of £100,000,000 tiie great bulk of it was with the Motherland. Their slogan was to buy within the Empire, even though it cost a little more. New Zealand was ready to pay the price, and he would* fain believe that she still got good value for that price. “ The goods we get from this country last,” said Sir James. “They do not fall to pieces in five or six years. lam sure jt is the soundest business to pay the best price for a good article. If you would only do that with regard to butter and cheese you would be all right. We have a record second to none. You ought to know that you are not buying water when you buy New Zealand butter. It contains vitamins that make you jump every morning. lam not going to say anything about other other butter, but wcproduce a bettor article. We make the proud defiance that there is nothing to touch New Zealand butter. Give it a trial.”

In this part of the country, Sir James continued, only one shop out of five stocked New Zealand butter and cheese. “ What I want is to see you people take a little interest in getting our goods, of which there is none better, on the market. I hope when I visit Leicester again that I shall find an increase in the number of shops stocking our produce.” Speaking of interchange of trade, the High Commissioner went on to say that more than half the cheese imported to this country came from New Zealand, about a quarter of the butter, and more than half the mutton and lamb that came to this country came from New Zealand. In the Motherland they found the right market for their goods. It was the endeavour of the New Zealand Government and the New Zealand farmer to send no produce that was not of the highest quality. ‘‘ By sending regular supplies,” Sir .Tames added, “ we hope to keep our goods before you, and through your generosity to double our trade with you here.” GOOD BUSINESS. Australia and New Zealand, with their seven and a-half million people, bought more manufactured goods from Great Britain than any other country on the globe. These two countries took 80 million pounds’ worth of goods, mostly from the manufacturing districts. India took 83 millions, and the United States, with a population of 120 millions, took only 73 million pounds’ worth. Little New Zealand, with its one and a-half million people, bought thffto times as much as Russia did in her best trade years. What was the moral?” asked Sic

James. “It .is seek trade for your own kinsmen. Don’t be obsessed by huge populations.” In 1913 the Dominion bought from Great Britain 37 per cent, of her exports. Now, only 14 years later, the dominions were buying 49 per cent, of the goods the people made their living out of. That was, half their trade exports were taken by the 24,000,000 people in other parts of the Empire, as against the half taken bv the other 400,064,000 people of the globe. Of every pound spent on dominion produce 15s came back to Great iiritain. Denmark produced excellent butter, but she was not in the running with the dominions in sticking to Great Britain and helping to fill the British factories with working men and women in full employment. The Empire must live together or die together. The Empire must stand or fall together. , “I put it to you,” said Sir James, it is good business apart from affection to buy our stuff, so that we can buy your stuff and help you to clear vour cities of men and women looking for work or living on the dole.” The Sigh Commissioner gave some figures showing that New Zealand was getting over her temporary depression. While they had cut down imports they had done that with other countries, leaving Great Britain untouched.

TRIBUTE FROM HYGIENE EXPERTS. Two other speakers were members of the Institute of Hygiene. Mr P. B. Tustin, P. R. San. 1., technical adviser to the United Dairies, Ltd., referred to the food experiments carried out by the Medical Research Council with a number of school boys. Those who came out best in the test had been fed on English milk and New Zealand butter. The council had chosen Now Zealand butler because there the cows were out in the open all the year round and the butter contained ft greater quantity of vitamins than that made from the milk of cows kept enclosed. _ _ _ Mr A. Seymour Harding, F.S.S., secretary of the Institute of Hygiene, remarked upon the wonderful improvement that had taken place in the purity of food during the last 50 years. With regard to the abolition of preservatives, it was interesting to note that before the law was brought into force Australia sent 10 per cent of her butter to this country entirely free of preservatives while New Zealand sent 20 per cent, of her butter free of preservatives. Subsequently the High Commissioner opened the exhibition and again emphasised the need for fostering. Imperial trade. Prom the exhibition the party went em to the Chamber of Commerce, where they were entertained at tea, and Sir James spoke on the policy of the New Zealand Government in buying British B the wisdom of reciprocal trade, and of New Zealand commerce generally. Ten minutes after he had finished his speech he and his party had a hearty send-off at the station. Mr Davisdidnot return to London, but went on to Manchester.