NEED FOR MARKETS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20477, 1 December 1934, Page 23

NEED FOR MARKETS.

New Zealand’s Present Difficulty. GOVERNMENT’S PART. (Special to tTie " Star.") CHEVIOT, November 30. Questions of exchange, foreign markets and production were touched on at Cheviot this evening by the Prime Minister speaking at a big gathering of people of the district. He said that if business could go on without Government assistance no one would be better pleased than the Government. “Each country nowadays is trying to live to itself,” said Mr Forbes. “Thousands are out of work and each country is faced with tremendous problems. Everyone knows that the prevention of a free interchange of goods between countries results in a considerable diminution of trade within the countries themselves.” New Zealand had made wonderful strides in production in recent years, particularly in the dairying industry, and that over a short period. There were still avenues in which that production could be added to. But what about the markets? .. “We are sending out produce to Great Britain.” he said, “but every other country is sending its produce there too, and the British Government owes a duty to its own farmers. Government in Business. “We are often told that the Government should not interfere in business. That is the last thing that the Government wishes to do. If business can go on without assistance no one is better pleased than the Government, but if the market depends on the good will of another country it becomes a matter for negotiations between the Governments of the countries concerned.” British Ministers had been very fair indeed in their treatment of New Zealand, and were doing their best for the Dominion. Mr Forbes said it was the intention of the New Zealand Government to set up a board to examine the prospects of new markets and to take the fullest advantage of opportunities offering in Great Britain. This legislation had met with criticism, but when new ground was broken criticism followed naturally. In these proposals the Government was acting on the advice and experience of practical men. Benefits of Exchange. Mr Forbes referred to the benefits farmers had received from exchange, and said he did not know whether the dairy farmers would have been able to carry on without it. This measure was adopted in the face of the bitterest criticism, but the farmers were the backbone of the country, and the country as a whole benefited from the steps taken. He instanced also the Mortgagors Relief Act. and said that it was hoped to enable farmers to arrange their finance at a lower rate than obtained to-day,