Mr Perry Tells of Home Land In Her Most Critical Hour

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 6105, 24 September 1947, Page 5

Mr Perry Tells of Home Land In Her Most Critical Hour

BRITAIN’S FIGHT IS ALSO NEW ZEALAND’S

In • opening the meeting Mr C. R. Haworth, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, sponsors of the function, expressed the pleasure of the Business-people in ' welcoming Mr Perry back to his home district. They appreciated his willingness to speak to the business-people and on their behalf Mr Haworth offered hearty congratulations to Mr Perry on his elevation to the office of President of federated Farmers of N.Z. “The position is one of the greatest importance. The farmers are now joined in a very strong body and I feel sure there is no other man in the country more capable to lead that body than Mr Perry.” Mi: Haworth assured the guest of., the evening that he carried the good wishes of the business-peo-ple of Cambridge.

Pleased to be Back.

-Mr Ferry said it was a real pleas--ure to come back among the people of Cambridge and he did thank them ■all for the goodwill shown to him. He <3id deem it an honour to receive the -office of President of Federated Farmers and they did have now the strongest body of producers that had ever existed in N.Z. The number of members was well over 40,000 and in another twelve months he expected the total to be over 50,000. He fully realised the., responsibility in being chosen as spokesman for such a body of farmers and he did feel honoured that he should have been sent 1 9 Geneva as adviser to the Government in its association with the International Trade Organisation’s conference. Mr Perry detailed his trip to the Old Country and he now agreed that, air travel was the way to get about the world.

Freer Trade. Wanted Between the Nations

In the course of further detail regarding the 1.T.0., Mr Perry said its purpose was an endeavour to get the nations to' agree to a Charter on the principles of freer trade between nations. “The ideal is the right one,” said Mr Perry, “because if freer trade is possible and nations can get together and understand one another’s viewpoints then it will go a long way to present further wars.*’

The speaker said it was unfortunate that the desired ideal was not reached for the reason that some of : the nations represented at the Conference ■wanted to get too much for. themselves. He explained that ohe of the primary products exported to U.S.A. was wool and it was rather a strange co-incidence that just as the Conference started the U.S.A. Bill on Customs Tariffs came before the Senate and it would be remembered that it was veteod by President Truman. This did not suit the Republican Government and its policy of high trade protection. As a result the U.S.A. representatives at Geneva knowing that the tariff measure had still to be ratified by the Senate, were afraid to make any concessions and as a result little'progress was made. Since then he had heard that tbe Charter had been agreed to, but with amendments that had’ made it very complicated. 1 He could not imagine it being more complicated than when he perused it at Geneva.

In the Charter now there were a number of escape clauses and Mr Perry explained that any subscriber nation could withdraw by giving six months notice of such intention. He had been very concerned, when at the Conference, because he believed that Imperial preference should be maintained within the Empire at all costs. Ninety per cent, of their produce went to Great Britain and it would continue to be their major market for many years to come. Because of the escape clauses mentioned he warned New Zealand to be very chary of what might be short term agreements with nations outside the Empire. “We want to be assured of a permanent market for years to come and Our aim must be a long term marketing policy with Great Britain,” said Mr Perry.

The Dutch are an Industrious People

In touching upon the Conference at the Hague of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers, Mr Perry said .this .important gathering of producers was from May 5 to the 23.

The first week of the Conference had been occupied in a . tour of Holland. At the conference’ there were 60 delegates representative of 32 countries. “Even Iceland had a representative,” said Mr Perry. “I did not know there was any farming

port gnore produce,

IN proposing a very hearty vote of thanks to Mr W. Norman Perry at the conclusion of a most interesting and informative address to some 80 business-people and district residents in the Oddfellows’ Hall on Monday night, Mr A. H. Nicoll, paid the speaker a deserved compliment when he said that Mr Perry, the new head of Federated Farmers of N.Z., Was a credit to his home district and to the Province. “One wonders why this man receives such an honour until he fully appreciates his ability, his kindliness and his willingness to serve the people; and above all his character.” On behalf of the people of Cambridge Mr Nicoll wished Mr Perry many more years of good health to enable him to continue his active interest in the affairs of the producers of this Dominion. (Applause.)

in Iceland until I met their representative.”

■ They saw every phase of Dutch farming and the Dutch work very long hours. . When he asked one Dutch farming representative why they did not mechanise their farms the reply was what to do with all the labour ? There was very little secondary industry in Holland and most of the people lived on the land.

Holland Has Set Us A Great Example

Mr Perry spoke of the extraordinary recovery the Dutch people were making from the devastation of the war. As an example he mentioned that when the Germans opened the dykes of Holland in one part they had flood : ed 50,000 acres to a depth of 12 feet. In 41 months the Dutch had pumped out all the water and were re-building their barns first; their homes would come later. Meanwhile many were living in temporary places built of bales of straw.

In 1946 they had fair: crops and when he was there in May the current year’s crops looked well. He bad visited Rotterdam and did see the awful devastation in the heart of the city where 35,000 people were bombed to death in one afternoon. The same night the Dutch capitulated to the Germans.

Mr Perry said he remarked to the Dutch Minister of Agriculture that he observed many young cattle and the Minister replied that in two years they hoped to be back to pre-war figures for stock.

The Dntcli people were sending

as much butter, cheese and milk'

powder to Britain as possible. They

were skimming the town milk supply

down to 2.5 and in Denmark, they

were doing the same, but down to 3

per cent. This enabled them to ex-

Would Make Good Settlers

Great Britain Facing Her Greatest Test

It was expected that it would tide her over to 1951, but the States soon increased their prices and so the loan was actually discounted 40 to 50 per cent. The position became so serious that Britain refused to convert further sterling to dollars and there was one ungrateful retaliation from the Argentine who pointed the pistol at Britain’s head and said, “no dollars, no meat!” Others of late had attempted to rehabilitate themselves at Britain's expense, knowing how desperate she was for food. j “I hofle the Government of Great Britain will be strong enough* to tell them to go somewhere,” remarked Mr Perry and there was a round of applause from the meeting. Mr Perry detailed Article 9 of the Loan Agree-

“The Dutch- people are very efficient, very cpurteous and equally; industrious,” said Mr Ferry. “I am ‘certain, they would be good settlers for N.Z., as we could get anywhere.” He went an to state that the LF.A.P was not a permanent body, though it was linked with the F.A.0., the latter being one of Government representatives. Its purpose in the days to come would be to divert surpluses of food to where there might be shortages. It would attempt to avoid the gluts of the past. The speaker was certain that for the next 20 years there would not be an over supply of food; but the important thing was efficient and equitable distribution. “It is hunger that causes unrest,” said Mr Perry. “It is hunger that is causing trouble around the world today. We have got to overcome this great problem and this is the purpose of the two bodies mentioned.”

Tribute to N.Z. Officials

“Britain is facing a great crisis, if pot the worst in her long history,” said Mr Perry. Before the war she had been a creditor and from her investments abroad Britain used to receive about three thousand millions sterling annually. When war broke out she had to buy munitions from U.S.A.' and if was on the cash and carry plan too. Her millions soon vanished and it is to the credit of the late President Roosevelt that he recognised cash and carry no longer possible for Britain and so he introduced his lend-lease provisions; but after the war Britain finished up a debtor nation and was compelled to seek a loan from U.S.A.

ment and said it had to he recognised that economically Britain was in a bad spot. He did, however, ha.ve enough faith in the people to win through; but —

“Her fight is our fight. If she goes down so does New Zealand. We must do our utmost to see that she weathers the storm. .1 spent six weeks in Great Britain and believe me the food position is grim.”

Mr Perry said that being on tour, naturally he fared better, but he wondered how the working people could continue to carry on with such meagre rations. The speaker gave details of the paucity of the food rations, as previously published.

“It is the monotony of food that is sapping the vitality of the people of Great Britain,” continued Mr Perry. ' “After eight years their food position is worse than at the beginning. The position in Britain is the ivorst of the lot and 'that of France is hot good. The British people do not deserve that condition after all they have gone through, and most of it for others.” Value of Food Parcels Mr Perry again stressed the great value of food parcels sent Home. “For goodness sake keep it up,” he said. Two things the people were most short of were fats and sugar. The people could buy tins of tongue in the shops, but at the handing over of 46 coupons. That, meant copons for six weeks’ meat rations. There was plenty of fish, but it was all boiled or steamed, because there were no fats to fry it. The monotony of diet could be appreciated. How the people work on such rations passes my comprehension, remarked the speaker. It is a real tragedy. The Government is urging the people to produce more and they cannot do it unless they get food.

Mr Perry went on to deplore the slow turn round of ships in New Zealand and stated that it took three ships to do now what two boats did before the war. That situation had to be rectified' somehow..

Mr Perry paid tribute to the industry of the British Farmer, as previously published.

The Good Name of New Zealand Produce

In referring to the good name of New Zealand produce and New Zealanders generally had in the Old Country the speaker said at present all meat and other produce was allocated to the rtetailers and they did not know what they would be given each week. He had spoken to distributors and retailers and all, were looking forward to the time when they could again ask for produce under the N.Z. brand. “It is not just abound the corner, but I hope it will be soon,” said Mr Perry. Some people wanted to drop the advertising campaign in Britain, but he did not think this would be a wise step. They had to keep the name before the people and when days of freer marketing came again the long term advertising policy would pay good dividends. Mr Perry briefly referred to the endeavours by British scientists to find a better and cheaper method of refrigeration. One method had been tried out in America and it was the “quick freeze” system. If the Argentine adopted it, then N.Z. would have to do likewise and it would cost a lot of money.

Mr Perry had a good word to say for the New Zealand officials at Home." He paid a compliment to the splendid services of Mr W. Jordan, the High Commissioner. “He has done a wonderful 'job and he was esteemed by one and all, and especially by his staff. The latter, too, were very courteous and helpful to all New Zealand visitors. The Marketing Division, with Mr H. Davis, at its head, and the N.Z. Meat Board with Mr Chisholm in charge, came in for praise from Mr Perry. Beautiful England Of all the overseas countries he had visited England was the most beautiful, stated Mr Perry. The people are kind and hospitable and nothing we can do for them is too much to do.

“Let us -not forget that this is Britain’s great crisis. .If she goes down so do we. Let us do all we can for her so that she can say in the years to come that we did play car part.” Sustained applause.

At the conclusion of- the address all present were the guests of the Chamber of Commerce to supper.