BETTER QUALITY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 188, 11 August 1931, Page 8

BETTER QUALITY

DOMINION’S PRODUCTS IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 8. “The need for improvement in the quality of Now Zealand’s products to enable them to overcome increasing competition was emphasised by the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes, when opening the Winter Show on Saturday evening. He lentioned the extent to which scientific research was joined to industry overseas, and maintained that the Dominion should follow on similar lines in relation to both its primary and secondary industries. “Only to see other countries is to realise how fortunate New Zealand is in every way in its fertility, for example, and its climate,” said Mr Forbes. “From the history of the country we realise the progress made in the short time of civilisation until a record production in proportion to the population has been attained. The primary products find competition increasing year by year, and the inly way in which they can face it is byimproving the quality of the products. As far as the Government is concerned we endeavour, by co-operation with scientific research’ and instruction of the farmers to work 1 ard improvement, and I think we can claim that great progress has been made. “By the steady improvement of the quality of our products and by taking in every acre of the country it will not be long before wo shall be able to double our production. The value of our production in 1931 is £36,275,000. In 1930 it was £46,000,000, and in 1929 it was £55,000. It must be remembered that with a smaller income we are bound to have difficult times, but there is no reason to be downhearted in a country like New Zealand, and the figures for the last ten years show what we can do. In 1931 9,829,000 earcases «f frozen mutton and lamb were exported, an increase of 30,000 over the previous season. Butter and cheese have had similar gains. In 1930 the butter exported was 93,73'4 tons, and this year it was 97,031 tons, while 2000 tons more cheese were exported last vear than the year before. A record for friut was established last season, when 1,293,000 cases were sent to Great Britain.

“With these increases there is no reason why the country should not go on. Although the Dominion has to depend on its primary products, there has been a steady improvement in the quality of the products of the secondary industries. I am quite sure the progress w ; ’l be maintained. The Department of Scientific and Industrial Research .is being reorganised, and a board is being set u pspccially to deal with the industries, both secondary and primary, of the country. What struck me when I was abroad' was that practically every industry had its own 1 boratory. Those are the lines along which wo should go. We should concenrtate on scientific assistance for eur industries, ”