FOREIGN COMPETITION

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1931, Page 9

FOREIGN COMPETITION

RUSSIAN-’DANISH EXPORTS

PROBLEMS OF DAIRY' INDUSTRY.

QUALITY VITAL TO NEW ZEALAND

The -increased competition of other countries with the exports of New Zealand dairy produce was referred to by the'Hon. S. G. Smitlq Minister of Labour, at the opening of the winter show at. New Plymouth yesterday. He emphasised the fact that quality was vital to New Zealand’s prosperity. In 1918 Russian exports to Britain had a total value of £6,711,320, but in 1929 the value had increased to £26,487,499. The principal items were wheat, barley, butter, poultry and baebn. In 1918 no Russian cheese was exported to Britain, but in 1929 the value of the cheese so exported was £5842. \ There was a remarkable increase in the value of Danish exports to Great Britain, Mr. Smith continued. In 1920 the value of Danish imports to Britain was £19,299,769, but by 1929 it had risen to £47,330,671. The principal items were butter, which had increased in value by £8,000,000 during the nine years, and bacon, which had increased by £20,000,000.

“I do not propose to discuss the question of standardised cheese except to r y that I am aware in a general way of the decisions arrived at by the conference recently held by my colleague,” said Mr. Smith. “These decisions will bo made known to the National Dairy. Association Conference to be held this’ month and which, I am glad to know, is to take place at New Plymouth. The figures indicate the growing trade of other countries with England. It follows that New Zealand produce must be-of.,high quality to command the sales of the countTy-dUgoes to. There is general recognition that 'if the. British consumers have genuine cause for complaint, there is every evidence of a clear determination to produce an article the quality of which will not be surpassed in any other part of the world. Quality | is vital to our prosperity.”