NEW MARKETS IN THE EAST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21198, 2 December 1930, Page 5

NEW MARKETS IN THE EAST.

TO THE EDITOR." Sir, —Recently a few visitors to the Dominion from the East : have stated that there are markets there waiting for our produce. A few days ago a man said that v W Zealand butter was preferred to other brands in Java. I very much doubt if the average consumer of butter in Java ever heard of it as a New Zealand product. ,We are told that there is a market for_New Zealand textile.goods in Japan. It is probable that these visitors wish to say something nice and cheerful, but I, residing here permanently, must state facts. Therefore I will say at once that we will never establish,a market in Japan for anything manufactured here. Within a couple of years they would have copied it and reproduced it more cheaply. There are no patent laws in Japan, and the Japanese make no secret of their ability to coot and undersell, but, if we get down to hard facta, Japan wants wool and »l-

ways will want it because she cannot produce sheep. I found one natural grass only ip Japan, and wag informed that there was one other; but it could not have been of much -consequence! The district where sheep will remain in fairly good health is very restricted. Therefore, it would he coinmonsense to endeavour to exchange our wool for some of their products. Naturally, if sheep cannot be grown there is hot any mutton and, therefore, there is a market for mutton and, fortunately, the market would not clash with the British'market. I-should take it that a lean well-fleshed carcass would be most suitable for Japan and the East in general. Very few people have roasts of meat in the East. The family joint consists of three or four ounces of-lean meat carried home' on a string, supplemented by vegetables. The whole of the East, especially Japan, at the present time has a craze for business and for_' exploiting new markets. Now is our time-to dictate or make arrangements. It will be found that if it is a question of hot buying any goods unless Japan purchases ours, the Japanese Government would arrange for this. _ > There should be a great opportunity in Japan and parts of the East lor New Zealand butter, but not if there is an attempt to sell it in the orthodox manner. It would be a simple matter, to impress the Japaneses at the present time with the value' of New Zealand butter, from a health point of view, as against Australian, and we are foolish if we do not take advantage of this. Outside of the strictly rural areas, living conditions are not low in Japan. -Wages are high when compared with those in other Eastern countries. Therefore, the city dweller could purchase a certain quantity of our products, but it is all nonsense to quote the countless millions in the East who are waiting for our Rutter, :cheeee, etc., when the countless’ millions are only earning from 2d to Is per day. On the other hand, there are many thousands who can afford to purchase our products. If I had nothing else to do I would put New Zealand-butterin front ,of all imported butters into Japan within a twelve-month. I feel it ■ is a duty to put this matter before your readers at the present time. —I am, etc., Robert J. Terry. Auckland, November 29.