BUSINESS OUTLOOK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3804, 8 February 1927, Page 15

BUSINESS OUTLOOK.

INCREASED EXPORTS NEEDED. NELSON, February 3. In tile course c.f his remarks at the opening,of the T'akaka show the Lion. ’G. J. Anderson said the iron industry was one of the greatest in the district, and those not directly connected with the production of iron should, nevertheless, do ail in their power to assist the industry. The more people there were in Onakaka the better it would be for th-.- district. When the farmers bought implements did they see they were made of Onakaka iron? It could be used in the manufacture of almost any metal goods, and it was’the faimers’ duty to see that any such goods they purchased were manufactured from iron produced within their own district. Referring to the business outlook (or the future Mr Anderson said he thought the prospect was good. While fancy pritc-i did not rule, yet, the various markets for dairying products were firm and fanners could produce butter and cheese and wool on a definite paying basis. The new solidity that was appaiant in the markets precluded speculation or deflation in land. Concerning trade from the broader point of view the Minister said that, unless? our exports were at least £7,090,000 in excess of our imports, the country was not x>rospering. It was. therefore, necessary to foster the goodwill of our best customer, Britain, by purchasing her goods. Wherever possible we should buy British cars, and not purchase from America, who dealt with us to a very small extent, ;;n l had prevented our having a market in that country by imposing a heavy protective Tariff on our goods. Many ill-advised critics were urging the Government to bring in for settlement large areas of poor third and fourth-class land, but it was the Government’s policy to keep the men at present on the land on their holdings, and not to open up land for other new settlers to face the difficulty of making it pay One Form of assistance was being given in this direction by the Government’s endeavour to supply the farmers with manure as cheaply as possible. 'The Cawthron Institute in Nelson was also doing important work that would be of great benefit to the settlers.