NEW MARKETS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26479, 5 June 1947, Page 8

NEW MARKETS

FUTURE POSSIBILITY WARNING TO DOMINION FARMERS OVERSEAS TRENDS NOTED Whatever the outcome of the discussion on tariffs at Geneva might be, there was no doubt that farmers in Now Zealand must be prepared for considerable changes in the system of marketing, and they could anticipate having to seek new markets for their produce, said the Otago provincial president of Federated Farmers, Mr S. Sim, in his address to the conference of delegates yesterday. “ We know that America is making determined efforts to break down Imperial preference—a system which for so many years has assured New Zealand of a guaranteed outlet for’ her surpluses,” he said. “Great,Britain is so deeply in debt to America at present that some concessions might have to be made. American Tariff Wall "We are prepared to work in with America and sell some of our goods there if the occasion arises for us to do so—there is a valuable market awaiting our produce in America if we can gain entrv over the tariff wall—but we must not undertake anything that might be detrimental to our relations with the Mother Country, nor must we enter into other contracts without prior consultation with Britain. Britam is our sword and buckler. If she falls, we fall, and not all the valour of our people .will save us. “We nave seen that, even while the American delegation is trying to get the Empire tp reduce its tariffs, a Bill has gone through the American House of Representatives ’giving the Secretary of Agriculture authority to impose a 50 per cent, penalty on imported wool, over and above the present tariff of up to 34 cents per lb, if he feels that the domestic industry requires protection. The Senate or the President may refuse to sanction this Bill, but the incident is a good indication that the Republican Party, now in power, is still clinging to its ideas of tariff protection, even to the extent of practically prohibiting the entry of wool that might compete with the largely inefficient and uneconomic: American sheep industry, , , Development in Britain

“ New Zealand farmers must attempt; to anticipate developments overseas so that they will be in a position to regulate and distribute their produce accordingly,” Mr Sim continued. ‘‘ It now. seems clear that Britain intends to switch very largely from cropping to 1 pastoral farming; in fact, to concentrate: a great deal on the type of farming, which is New Zealand’s specialty, and' one developed solely to meet the neeas of the British market. It would seem that we can expect more serious competition in the future from the British farmer, especially for our meat, and if this competition does develop and there is any clipping of Imperial preference, the problem of new markets will become an-urgent one.”