FARMERS’ OUTLOOK

Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3468, 19 May 1934, Page 7

FARMERS’ OUTLOOK

UNION PRESIDENT’S VIEWS,

.. MARKETS IN THE EAST. “ There are one or two important matters which the Farmers’ Union * ■ tnust keep in touch with, and keep pressing for,” said Mr T. Currie, president of th'e Wanganui provincial executive at the annual meeting on Wednesday. “• In the first place there must be a reduction in overhead costs. How it is to be brought about I don’t quite know, but it is the Government’s job to tackle it properly. Secondly, there must be a reduction in taxation; and, thirdly, a reduction in the customs dufties on British goods. >We cannot expect Britain to take all our primary products, or the bulk of them, if we do not import all we want from her.” The speaker quoted figui’es to show that for the calendar 'year 1933 the Dominion had exported, exclusive of gold and practically in primary produce, 86.13 per cent, and had imported from Britain 50.30 per cent of the total imports. During the same time New Zealand had exportaed to other British countries 5.44 per cent and had imported from those countries 24.26 per cent. To foreign countries New Zealand had exported 8.43 per cent and had imported from them 25.44 per cent. “In addition to that aspect, the matter seriously affects shipping, Mr Currie proceeded, “and extra freight must be paid to cover the cost of bringing the boats out in ballast.” The speaker considered that it would take a long time to develop markets in the East. He had been informed that the meat exported from New Zealand would not be suitable. It was too fat for Japan, which wanted a carcase of 400 lbs. Tins had to be small—half-pound tins, in fa<3t. A great deal of the meat used by Japan in the winter came from Mia-n----chutia and China. It was simply killed and loaded for transport. By the time it reached Japan it was chilled by the wintry atmosphere. There was no necessity to erect expensive freezing works. “ There has been a good deal of talk about quotas,” said Mr Currie, “ and it is difficult to know what will happen if they are applied. One way to overcome the difficulty will be to improve the quality of our products.” He added that there seemed every prospect of the chilled beef trade aeveloping. Concentration should be devoted to producing the right type of cattle and aim at three-year-old carcases of between 700 and 750 lbs. He had been told that if the trade was successful it would mean a rise of 30s in the value of cattle of that type.