FARM PRODUCTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22610, 29 June 1935, Page 5

FARM PRODUCTS

HIGH GRADE ESSENTIAL INTENSE COMPETITION RELIANCE ON PRIMARY EXPORTS The extent to which New Zealand depends on exports of primary produce for its income and the paramount importance of striving for a continual improvement in their quality were emphasised by the deputy chairman of the Executive Commission of Agriculture, Sir Francis Frazer, when opening the annual conference of the Royal Agricultural Society in Wellington on Tuesday. Sir Francis said that now that the competition for markets had become more intense and had been accompanied by a policy of restriction of importations, it was more than ever ?iecessary that we should concentrate our energies on making the best use of our natural resources in supplyinr our markets with the highest grade commodities that it was possible to produce. "The Executive Commission of Agriculture appreciates the honour you have done it in inviting its representative to open this conference," said Sir Francis Frazer. " The Royal Agricultural Society stands for' the" improvement of the quality of our stock and of our agricultural and pastoral production generally. The Executive Commission of Agriculture meets your society on common ground, for it joins with the society in the common purpose of aiding and stimulating the attainment of improved standards of quality. "The Royal Society provides an educative stimulus, and the commission aims at supplementing this aspect by administrative and regulative methods, and translating into practical effect the efforts of the society. The society encourages the breeding and growing of suitable types of stock and agricultural produce, and the commission, with the assistance of the different produce boards, aims at maintaining high standards of quality and efficiency in the production, processing and marketing of the commodities that our country produces. DEBT DUE TO SOCIETY.

"The Dominion owes a debt, tin extent of which is perhaps insufficiently realised, to the Royal Agricultural Society and its affiliated associations for the extremely valuable service they have performed in raising the standards of New Zealand stock and demonstrating the most suitable breeds and types for our soil and climatic conditions. As a single example of the work that has been done in New Zealand, I may instance the Corriedale sheep, which is, of course, a distinctive New Zealand product. "It is well known that it is a difficult matter to stabilise a new breed, but the difficulties have been overcome and the Corriedale is now soundly established. It has proved the justness of the claims made for it both as to quality and as to suitability for New Zealand conditions, for it is an excellent dual-purpose eheep, producing good wool and good mutton, and it possesses a strong constitution and thrives on fairly high country. We have even built up an export trade, not large, but still useful, in live Corriedales. Similarly, we may expect to proceed with the development of the most suitable breeds and types of beef and dairy cattle and other stock for the widely-differing areas of the Dominion. CHILLED BEEF TRADE.

"The possibilities of the chilled beef trade demand that closer attention be paid to the development of suitable types of beef cattle for different localities, so that we may be able to take the fullest advantage of the market. The export of frozen pig meat* is an important and rapidly developing branch of the activities of the dairy industry. Your society can, I feel sure, render valuable assistance by giving special consideration to classes of exhibits illustrating the best types of pigs, particularly baconers, for export, and so encouraging breeding along right lines." Sir Francis said that in Great Britain and in other parts of the Empire the Royal Shows provided a means of bringing together the best of the stock and produce in the country. The fact that a breeder or a grower had won a prize at a Royal Show was a far greater matter than the prize itself, for it had given his work a hallmark, and had established him as the holder of a blue ribbon in the agricultural world. Hence he and his fellow competitors were stimulated to still further efforts to the common good of the whole farming community and the country generally. SHOW FILMS SUGGESTED. "I suppose," he continued, "that we all visit a picture theatre occasionally and that we have all seen films of the Royal and National Shows in other countries. We must have been impressed with the important part these shows play in the life of those other communities and with the immense interest they create in their respective countries. It occurs to me that moving pictures of our New Zealand Royal Shows might well have an advertising value for New Zealand and New Zealand products in other parts of the world, particularly if supported by an instructive running commentary. I■ do not know whether this form of publicity Ims been considered or tried, but I throw out the suggestion as being possibly worth while. "We in New Zealand depend for 97 per cent, of our income from exports of the products of the soil. It is therefore of paramount importance that generous and whole-hearted support should be given to the organisations* that stand for the continued improvement of the quality of our produce, and that that support should be forthcoming not only from the farming interests but from all sections of the community, for all are of necessity vitally interested in the success of our agricultural and pastoral industries. EFFICIENT PRODUCTION. "Your society is the head and front of the agricultural and pastoral organisations, and its principal object is to encourage the development of breeds and types that will make possible the efficient production of exports of tlic highest quality. Thc^agricultural policy of New Zealand, which lias been successful until recently, has been along the lines of continually increasing production of exportable commodities of high quality. This policy has been greatly aided by the efforts of your own society and its affiliated bodies. " Now that the competition for markets overseas lias become more intense and has been accompanied by a policy of restriction of importations, so that an element of uncertainty has arisen as to the possibilities of a greatly increasing export trade," concluded sir Francis, "it is more than ever necessary that we should concentrate our energies on the work that your society exists- to encourage—the development of the most suitable breeds and types that will enable us to make the best use of our natural resources in supplying our markets with the highest grade commodities that it is possible to produce."— (Applause.)