DOMINION PRODUCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3886, 4 September 1928, Page 13

DOMINION PRODUCE.

PROMINENT DISTRIBUTOR’S VIEWS. “ So long as the producers pay strict attention to quality, the Home market has not by any means reached saturation point so far as New Zealand products are concerned,” said Mr F. Warren, C.8.E., managing director of Messrs J. and J. Lonsdale and Co., Ltd., London, the largest and oldest firm of distributors of dairy produce in the Old ™/ Country, in the course of conversation with our representative on Tuesday evening. By reason of the fact that for 37 years he has been connected with the distributing side of the dairying industry, and, in addition, has held the position of director of butter and chese supplies during the war, Mr Warren is .qualified to speak with authority. He is visiting New Zealand for the purpose of coming into closer touch with the producers of the Dominion, and in order to arrange for increased supplies of Dominion produce for distribution throughout the United Kingdom, So far as the butter market at Home •was concerned, said Mr Warren, prices depended on two things—first, world production, and, secondly, purchasing power based on the prosperity of the purcliasing centres of Europe and Great Britain. Marked changes were coming over the dairying industry throughout the world. America was rapidly becoming a food importer, -whereas she used to be a large exporter. . Moreover, two years ago, Canada exported 8000 tons of butter to the United Kingdom, and since then not one pound of Canadian butter had been received in Great Britain. So far as Europe was cencerned there would probably be some further increase in price, but appearances seemed to indicate that .increased purchasing power in the industrial centres would largely balance any such increase. • / Since he had been in the Dominion, continued Mr Warren, he had been asked many times about the marketing and distribution of Dominion produce. Recent prices showed that New. Zealand butter was making practically the same, and even in some cases higher, prices than Danish. By reason of its geo-

graphical position towards the east coast of England, Denmark sent her butter to the east coast ports, whence it was distributed to the Midlands and Scotland. The produce of the Dominion, by virtue of its being landed principally in the southern ports, had a great market in the south and London. “It is not generally understood,” said Mr Warren, “ what a great market London is. Take Charing Cross as the centres of a circle with a radius of 25 miles. That circle contains a population of 9,000,000 people, and when one realises that the greater part of the produce from New Zealand is landed either at the Royal Albert or the Surrey commercial docks, both of which are only- eight miles from Charing Cross, one qan realise the immense possibilities of such a market.” Referring to the advertising of Dominion produce. Mr Warren said that the Empire Marketing Board was using every endeavour to bring before consumers the excellence of Empire products. Wherever one went throughout the length and breadth of Great Britain, one could find New Zealand meat, fruit, butter, and cheese all labelled as such, so that the purchaser knew exactly what he was buying. Mr Warren went on to say that he had been struck with the possibilities for increased production in various parts of the Dominion. He noted with pleasure that phosphates were being freely used, and he knew only too well the value of this treatment. He noted also that more and more ground was being brought into cultivation, and he could see that, with draining and topdressing, land which had been useless was gradually being made productive. “ I am pleased to sec such developments taking place,” said Mr Warren in conclusion. “ Your producers have little to learn from other countries, but. if I might offer a word of advice, they must concentrate on quality, quality, quality. If they will do this, they need have no fear of over-production for many years to come.” Mr Warren will leave this morning for Mount Cook, where he will spend a few r days prior to his departure for Australia.