“ON SHEEP’S BACK”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26996, 3 February 1949, Page 4

“ON SHEEP’S BACK”

I ■ _ DOMINION’S SOUND POSITION IMPORTANCE OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY Established in 1904 with a borrowed capital of £SO, the fountain pen manufacturing ‘ firm of Conway Stewart and Company, Ltd., is now worth more than half a million pounds. The borrowed £SO was repaid after the first six months’ business: This was mentioned to the Daily Times yesterday bv the managing director of the firm, Mr Stanley W. Jarvis, of London, who is visiting Dunedin at the conclusion of a business tour of New Zealand. The history of his company proved what could be done, he said.

In Britain, with a population of 50,000,000, the manufacturer had a great market, Mr Jarvis , continued, and as production increased so overhead expenses lessened. At present the British manufacturers had to export 50 per cent, of their production, and this made the home market short. “ In New Zealand you should never forget that your primary production is all important. Never neglect it.” he emphasised. “ The whole world is short of food. Food is not plentiful in Britain, and under the present system we do not see New Zealand lamb which we demanded before the war. Now all we get is ‘meat.’ there is no choice between mutton or beef, and it may come from New Zealand, the Argentine, or it may be produced at home.”

In the opinion of Mr Jarvis, New Zealand was “ riding on the sheep’s back,” and this fact, he added, should not be forgotten. \ ; Mr Jarvis has travelled widely in Europe, America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. During his present tour he has been impressed by the smaller cities and towns—such as Invercargill. Timaru, Waimate, Oamaru and Gore. They had the advantages of the small town without the disadvantages of the big city, he said.