MARKETS NEEDED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 732, 8 April 1933, Page 9

MARKETS NEEDED.

Opportunities Discussed by Minister. INCREASED PRODUCTION. Per Press Association. PALMERSTON N., April 8. In connection with the convention to be held here during this month by the Manawatu District Development League, a large public meeting was held last evening, when the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon R. Masters) was the principal speaker. In the course of a review of the Dominion’s export trade, the Minister said the necessity for new markets was becoming more apparent every day. He specially stressed the opportunities of trade with the Far East and India, and quoted Australia’s activities in this connection. Referring to the butter market, the Minister said that the world’s exports to Great Britain had increased by £24,000,000 between 1914 and 1931. During the same period Great Britain was called upon to take additional cheese valued at £2,000,000, wool at £29,000,000, and meat at £28,000,000, but the population had not increased sufficiently to absorb the supplies. In 1914 the production of butter in New Zealand was 19,934 tons. To-day the Auckland province alone produced three and a half times that quantity. Every country was increasing production and all were flooding the United Kingdom. After quoting Britain’s imports of butter from foreign countries, the Minister commented that the quota seemed inevitable. British farmers were in difficulties, and, highly organised nationally, were being a big political force. Britain had a duty to her own people, who had themselves experienced restrictions in regard to the quota and preference. New Zealand now had to apply to marketing the same highly scientific methods as it had to production. The Minister emphasised the fact that the Government had made no representation to Britain regarding the quota.