MEAT TALK DELAYS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22612, 2 July 1935, Page 5

MEAT TALK DELAYS

TO THE EDITOR

Sib, —As a New Zealander profoundly interested in the immediate future outlook for our export trade, I view with the gravest concern the cabled reports which recently appeared in the daily press under the above heading. Such extracts as “ Dominion delegates are dissatisfied. . . .” and “ there is a feeling

that the British Ministry is not facing its responsibilities adequately,” are unpalatable and disquieting in the extreme. But surely they are the inevitable repercussions of our own shortcomings. In all these discussions final results can hinge on one factor alone —reciprocity of trade. The attitude of the British Ministry is merely evidence that Britain is dissatisfied with our own attitude over the purchases of United Kingdom manufactured goods. Truly our Government delegates have an unenviable task. Britain is, on this occasion, on the box seat, calling the tune, and unless we dance we must pay the piper. One would think in these circumstances that every effort would be made to prove our honesty of purpose to the Home authorities. No better backing, no more powerful bargaining lever could be given our Government leaders than an increase of orders for Home manufactures. But cases within my own limited sphere show the position to be the reverse. For example, an influential freezing company recently placed a large order for electrical motors with a foreign organisation. And this despite the fact that previously competitively-priced British motors were used and gave every satisfaction. Two other prominent freezing companies recently contracted with an American organisation for the supply of lubricating oils, although in the past they used oils of British origin, upon which, in each case, their engineers gave glowing reports. Co-operative dairy companies, semipublic bodies, such as power boards, borough councils, county councils, drainage boards, and influential commercial houses are buying foreign motor vehicles in increasing j numbers. Imagine it—organisations whose very existence, and the existence of every farmer they serve, depend wholly on Britain—transport cream, butter, beef, mutton, cheese, in foreign vehicles, use foreign machinery, etc. —in a word, make every effort in their power to estrange our biggest customer, Britain. Naturally enough the individual farmers are influenced, by such choices. And so it goes on—an indictment, not merely bn our loyalty, but on our very intelligence. Perhaps those responsible for these foreign purchases imagine that the Home Government and Home manufacturers are unaware of these developments. More short-sightedness. The Board of Trade and all British manufacturers’ organisations have a finger on the pulse of this market. They know of the business they lose as well as the business they secure, and our honesty is thus gauged to a nicety. It is of no avail to repeat the parrot cry that our purchases per ’Capita are better than other dominions. According to the British Board of Trade, the actual facts are that for every £IOO Britain spends with them, the following reciprocate with purchases of British goods to the extent of: South Africa, £254; India, £B7; Australia, £52; Canada, £39; New Zealand, a mere £2B. But the dominions are not our chief competitors. • Argentina and Denmark are, and the alarming part is that both these countries afford Britain better reciprocal treatment than we do. For every £IOO Britain spends with Argentina, she buys from Britain £3l. Denmark spends £40.. and New Zealand £2B, and we ask for preferential treatment—-actually expect to get it! It must be fairly obvious that the Home Government is... distinctly "for” the manufacturer —more so in fact than our own Government is “ for ”, the farmer. Once let us gain the and sympathy of the Britislf manufacturer and our troubles wall ultimately vanish. But at the moment he is apathetic, if not positively disgruntled, over New Zealand’s attitude. Is it any wonder that our “ Dominion delegates are dissatisfied ” as reported ? What else could we, reasonably expect in these circumstances? In conclusion. Sir, I do think we are blindly playing the fool. The patriots pulling their weight are outweighed by. people who are doing the reverse, and it is to the" latter I appeal in all sincerity and in the name of common sense. New Zealand’s economic reconstruction depends bn our logical cultivation of the world’s greatest market for primary produce —Great Britain. With Britain's markets we can prosper, if other iparkets vanish. Without her, wo cannot even exist, and all the other available markets' of the world could not prevent economic disaster.—l am, etc., June 26. Reciprocity.