NEW ZEALAND MARKETS

Taranaki Daily News, 1 February 1933, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND MARKETS

POSSIBILITIES OF EXPANSION POPULARISING DAIRY PRODUCE. VISITOR’S NOVEL SUGGESTION. Wellington, January 30. “I had looked forward with some pleasure to seeing New Zealand, but it has exceeded my every expectation. I never felt so much at home in my life’” A rich north-country cordiality accompanied the expression of the above sentiments, spoken by Mr. John Lincoln Tattersail, a retired director of the Lancashire Cotton Corporation, who is at present touring the Dominion. Mr. Tattersall, although he resides at “Woodcaves,” Wilmsoe, Cheshire, is a Manchester man. .. “Yes, this country is very home-iiKe to me,” said Mr. Tattersall. “Far more so than Canada and Australia. I hke the New Zealand people, too. They are bright, straightforward, candid, and if 1 were a young man setting out in life I would come out here, . . “You know, I have been interested in the cotton trade of Lancashire all my life, but I am retired now, and seeing something of the world,” said the visitor. “Labour troubles? Oh, yes, we have had them lately—we have always had them, more or less. The unions will not realise the changed conditions of the cotton industry. Years ago we were pre-

eminent in the piece goods markets of the world—it was practically at our disposal. Now great cotton mills have been set up in India, China and Japan, and not only do they supply their own needs, but compete with us in the open markets of the world, including Australia and New Zealand. JAPANESE COMPETITION. “Unfortunately,” continued Mr.. Tattersall, “Japan has adopted the policy of selling at the best price obtainable irrespective of the cost of production. Of course they have the advantage o cheaper labour, but as against that they have fairly heavy overheads. For instance, when they recruit labour in the country for work in the factories they do so under contract, and have to house and feed-them as well as pay them a certain wage. But still there cannot be fair competition between a country which pays Id. an hour for its labour as against another which pays Is. an hour. “On this matter I have a strong feeling that there will have to be differential treatment accorded to cotton goods from a white man’s country and those turned out by cheap coloured labour. We can compete with any country in Europe in the manufacture of cotton goods, but it is a different matter when it comes to the cheap labour of the Orient. “I have an idea that New Zealand could improve the marketing of her produce at Home,” said Mr. Tattersall. .“One of the best things New Zealand could do would be to admit English cotton goods absolutely free of duty, and announce the fact on every butter, cheese and fruit box you send Home. I think it would be a wonderful .idea—it would capture the imagination not only, of Lancashire, but the whole. «f England.” “I have been greatly struck with the good quality of your fruit, butter and cheese,” said Mr. Tattersall, “and yet you seem to be marketing your goods in such a way as to secure the lowest wholesale price. For instance, New Zealand cheese. is a much better quality than Canadian, and yet you are getting 2d. per lb. less wholesale. Then, again, I think your butter is better quality than Danish, yet New Zealand sells at 2d. per lb. less. THE DANISH VICTORY. “There is no mistaking the fact that the Danes have captured the English market as far as butter and bacon are concerned, and it might be worth New Zealand’s while to follow their example. When the Danes found that they were not getting satisfactory treatment from the English merchants they established their own warehouses and delivered their produce direct to the shopkeepers of England in their own vans—even if it were only half a side of bacon per. week. That is the great secret of their success —cutting out the middle man. “When Canada commenced the production of cheese for export she attempted to imitate English makes, but found that it did not pay. Then they decided to adopt a universal standard for all dairies throughout the country, under which system her exports increased, until to-day she is the biggest supplier of cheese of ordinary quality to England—but again I say it. does not compare with New Zealand cheese.”

Mr. Tattersall is a personal friend of Mr. Montagu Norman, Governor of the Bank of England, whom he describes as “a financia} gemus who wields more power than either Mr. Ramsay MacDonald or the King of England.”