WORK OF N-Z. PRIMARY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 150, 1 July 1946, Page 5

WORK OF N-Z. PRIMARY

PRODUCERS PRAISED DINNER IN LONDON EFFORTS TO PROMOTE TRADE BENEFICIAL TO ALL (Special Correspondent—N.Z.P.A. Reed. 6 p.m. London? June 18. “Amazing,” was the description applied to the work o£ New Zealand’s primary producers, by Mr. Nash at a dinner given in honour of the New Zealand producers’ delegation to the recent world conference by the National Federation of Meat Traders’ Associations of Britain. It was true, he said to a question whether any country had made greater contribution to feeding the world than New Zealand. Mr. Nash referred to causes for worry at the present conditions of the world and to the short-term policy required to meet famine conditions, but he added that in one direction they were a source of insniration. This was because, for the first time, all the world was thinking of the necessity for feeding everybody. It was an amazing advance over the thinking of a generation ago. Mr. Nash said that a similar inspiration had come from the depression of the thirties, because the world took responsibility for unemployed, and all countries accented collective responsibility for unemployment and were now organising for full employment.

Mr. C. J. Hewson, nresident of the association, and deputy-Mayor of Grimsby, expressing appreciation of New Zealand’s production throughout the war, said that in future it ought to be possible to arrange for an adequate supply of all kinds of foodstuffs to Britain, whereby producers of both the Homeland and the Dominions reaped fair rewards.

“We would welcome any arrangement in our trade that would guarantee economic prices to farmers and also to Dominion producers,” he said. He warmly praised the record of New Zealand servicemen and said how touched he had been when expressing gratitude for New Zealand’s effort to a young New Zealand airman in Grimsby. The youngster replied: “Our mothers and fathers told us it was our duty to come.” Mr. Mulholland declared that New Zealanders could not help remembering that the people of Britain did so much more than "what we did in New Zealand.” Britain had carried on through the dark days of the fall of France, but, he added, “when you speak of your gratitude to us I cannot help feeling how much wc owe to you.”

“If you are referring to lhe mutual interests of producers and distributors,” he said, “very great economic and physical changes are coming.” Mr. Mulholland asked for “sympathetic and active co-operation in working out the best methods whereby they could give the consumer the best article in the world in the best condition in the world.” Every member of the delegation, and Mr. Nash and Mr. Jordan were presented with a copy of “The Englishman’s Country,” with chapters by noted 'English authors. Many New Zealanders connected with the marketing of New Zealand produce were present.