HEW ZEALAND PRODUCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16869, 26 October 1925, Page 9

HEW ZEALAND PRODUCE.

PLACE OF ORIGIN MARK

SIR JAMES ALLEN ON THE ECONOMIC REPORT. LONDON. August 14. Sir James Allen considers that the important part of tile Imperial Economic Committee’s report is that dealing with tllo marking of Empire produce with tiro country of origin It is not pnssib e to speak of the discussions of the committee!, but it it self-evident that this concession had its chief advocates in the New Zealand members. After afl the Dominion has more to gain than the other Dominions, and the scheme is not a new one tor Sir James Alicia- took up the matter vigorously a year or two ago whoa the Merchandise Marks Act was under discussion. Producers in New Zealand wi.l have to label the butter boxes or the. containers of other produce with the words ‘‘New Zealand Produce.” It will (lien be incumbent upon the wholesalers to make known the country of origin to the retailers. Ketai’ers will b e helped in every way and wi 1 probably he supplied with lebels. ’1 heir duty will be to see that .their goods bays a notice showing the. country of origin. The High Commissioner is very omphalic concerning the necessity for New Zealanders to keep up llio quality of their produce. Other Dominions are forging ahead, and New Zealand cannot afford to be careless as on occasions they have been in Hie grading of butter. Ibe marking of produce at this end should be’ an inducement to the producers to keep up their standard, and to see that their herds and flocks arc reinforced with pedigree stock. RESEARCH WORK. Tlio propaganda among tho consumers in this country will be a big work. ‘‘l hope it will be very effective work,” said Sir James. “The public have the wil] to use Empire product*, and when they have, the ability of identifying the produce it should he possible t<> make that wish stronger and cause them to ask for Empire nroduee every time. We want to ki.up the goodwill of the retailers. That question was discussed very fully and everything will be dune to assist them and to cause them as little expense as possible in carrying out tiie scheme.

“Personally I feel that research work is of enormous importance. I wanted a greater proportion of the money to be allocated to research. I think -research is almost as important as propaganda. There is much to be done in the matter of the carriage of meat and fruit. I w r as able to induce the committee to include in research work the diseases of animals. Although l had at the buck of my mind the bovine treatcinenl for tuberculosis there are other diseases such as foot-and-mouth which require investigation. Money spent on such investigations, will be Used to great advantage’.

Thu Now Zealand representation on the committee consisted of the High Commissioner and Mr. R. S. Forsyth.