FUTURE MARKETING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 49, 27 February 1941, Page 4

FUTURE MARKETING

DISCUSSION BY FARMERS POST-WAR DEVELOPMENT “There is a great deal in that letter, but what can the Farmers’ Union do about it?” commented Mr. C. Smith when a letter from the Reciprocal Trade Federation of the United Kingdom, headed "The Black Future For New Zealand’s Dairy Industry,” was read at the monthly meeting yesterday of the Wanganui Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. Mr. J. J. Lissette: You must admit a lot of it is true. Mr. W. Peat said this letter had been written to the Chamber of Commerce. There was much in it which required a great deal of attention, and was worthy of consideration. Any direction from the Farmers’ Union would be useful to him when he attended the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce as the Farmers’ Union representative. The president, Mr. T. Currie: It points out a serious position from their view. It had to be admitted that the position in regard to the dairying industry in New Zealand was serious, said Mr. A. R. Laird. The butter ration in England had been increased, said Mr. Lissette, indicating that more butter was available. He agreed with much of what the letter stated, but difflerent versions were heard, said Mr. W. Morrison. It had been said that after the war was over there would be nothing to fear regarding butter and cheese for a long time. In Denmark, for example, stocks were depleted due to cows having been killed, and would have to be restored. There was little difference between margarine and butter overseas. and this was a difficulty for the producer in New Zealand, specially as margarine was so much cheaper. A greater difficulty might be experienced in regard to meat, but he did not think Britain would forget her Empire and her debt to the workdone by Empire troops. She would help New Zealand and other countries, in spite of financial interests in the Argentine. Mr. Morrison added that he understood that at present many refrigerated ships from the New Zealand trade were in the Mediterranean as supply vessels. When the Italians were pushed out of North Africa, however, and there was every indication they would be, these ships might be released. In his opinion, said Mr. Morrison, the outlook for New Zealand after the war was not as gloomy as was made out. Mr. W. Peat said Mr. Morrison had overlooked the poverty that would follow the war, and added that the cheaper article would get the market. The New Zealand article had been bolstered up in price to such an extent that they would be unable to compete on the open market. Costs in this country would have to be reduced. Mr. Donaldson said he proposed sending a copy of the article to the Dominion Secretary, Mr. A. P. O’Shea. Wellington, for discussion of the Dominion executive. To send out a letter of gloom like that at this stage of the country’s history was wrong, said Mr. R. Campion. The article should be put in the wastepaper basket.