Farm and Garden.

Waipa Post, Volume VII, Issue 338, 7 August 1914, Page 8

Farm and Garden.

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCTS

SAN FRANCISCO SHOP • SUGGESTED.

Mr E. Clifton, the New Zealand Commissioner to the PanamaPacific International Exposition to be held next year, is strongly of the'opinion that a great deal could be done in the direction of fostering the consumption of New Zealand products in the United States by the establishment of a shop in San Francisco in which nothing but New Zealand goods should be handled or"sold (writes the Post's San Francisco correspondent). And the Exposition year, during which hundreds of thousands of people will visit the city, not only from all parts of the United States but from Canada, South America and Europe as well, would undoubtedly be the most-opportune occasion conceivable for the opening of such a shop or market. In conversation with your representative, Mr Clifton referred to the great success attained by such a New Zealand store in London. He has paid close attention to the reception accorded New Zealand primary products in San Francisco "since the lowered tariff has made thenimportation feasible, and has no doubt that the market can be widely expanded by the means he suggests. "When the enterprising New Zealanders established retail shops in Great Britain for the sale of refrigerated meats, dairy produce, etc., patrons were able to rely upon receiving the highest quality of New Zealand butter and meat and not having some other product foisted upon them," said Mr Clifton. "They then acquired an appreciation for those foods, and it is to a great extent by this means that the New Zealand food products have become so widely known in England. If such a store were established in San Francisco next year I have no doubt it could be made to pay handsomely. The San Franciscan is prepared to pay the highest price for goods of the highest quality, and these New Zealand can furnish."

A disadvantage under which New Zealand exporters now labour, namely, the spasmodic character of the shipments to this market under existing conditions, would be removed by the opening of a New Zealand retail shop here, in Mr Clifton's opinion. "In order to establish a permanent trade on a large scale," remarked the Commissioner, "New Zealand must send in a continuous supply the whole year round. It is verv disconcerting, as happens now, to go into a store or market and be met with the statement that there is no more New Zealand butter to.be obtained, nor is there likely to be any for some months. Trade in a food product cannot be maintained by spasmodic shipments. With the reason in which butter is not made, now reduced to three months of the year, and with that season constantly tending to become shorter, it is quite possible to keep the market here supplied all the year round. The opening of a retail establishment in San Francisco devoted exclusively to New Zealand products would consummate this end." Mr Clifton hesitates to suggest that the Government establish such a store, his opinion being that the Government is always a poor trader; but he makes the suggestion for New Zealand exporters to consider, whether they think it better to make it a matter of individual enterprise or of some form of co-operative activity.