The Waikato Times THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1934. THE SEARCH FOR MARKETS.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19455, 20 December 1934, Page 8

The Waikato Times THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1934. THE SEARCH FOR MARKETS.

Slowly but steadily the Government is apparently approaching its duty of finding new markets for the exportable P ro uce 0 Dominion. If the visit of Mr Coates and Mr Masters to Australia was, from the point of view of the objective which prompted it, an utter failure, it is some sntall compensation to learn a Masters, in his new full-time occupancy of the portfolio ot lncU * s_ tries »and Commerce, has found time to explore avenues or o am ing direct shipping services from New Zealand to the East.

The country has already learned from the Minister of inance that many valuable contacts were made with authorities in .us tralia, and opportunity was taken for an orientation o upon subjects of mutual interest. In this connection, incidentally, it must be a bitter pill for the Dominion Government that the lates reports from London indicate the determination of the Austra lan negotiators to stand dlone in opposition to the meat quota proposa s. Both countries have now practically identical interests in the mea and dairy produce markets of Britain, and this surely was one instance where concerted action might have been desirable.

The securing of direct shipping services to eastern ports, however, is an objective which is worthy of the fullest, application o ministerial energy and zeal. The importance of gaining a place for New Zealand in the markets of the East has been repeatedly stresse throughout the Dominion Press, and notwithstanding the fact that the possibilities of tdade have been decried in some 4 uar^®rs > fact that Australia has already made considerable progress in the selling of a portion of her exportable produce in those markets is conclusive evidence of the existence of a demand.

In any case,'if it were possible to dispose *of only a portion.of our dairy produce to eastern consumers, the effort to secure shipments would be worth making. It would relieve the pressuie on the British market to an extent much greater, proportionately, than the actual amount* of the diversion which might take place. There is, of course, no reason why Britain should not be able to absorb all the butter and cheese that New Zealand can produce, for the necessary increase in the national standard of living, spread over a population of sixty millions, would be very small.

At the present time, however, Britain is definitely committed to a programme of import control, p)us a greater or less degree of quantitative restriction. In such circumstances it is no more than common prudence to endeavour to dispose at satisfactory prices of an unwanted surplus. If the eastern markets should prove to be capable of any great development, increased buying by Asia’s millions will have beneficial effects throughout the world, but the countries which have pioneered the food trade in those regions will enjoy the greater benefits. ' " s -

To quote Mr Masters: "The more we delay the more difficult it will become to obtain a footing, as our competitions are becoming more .deeply entrenched and it is a matter for regret that we did not make more determined efforts in this direction.” The fact that these “more determined efforts” were not made is a reproach which must lie against the present Government as much as against its predecessors. The urgency of action in this regard was laboured in 1 the Press before Australia entered the eastern markets, and during the past three years the question has been advocated with- increasing intensity. It is only to be hoped that the Government, having at last realised the need for action will be fully seized with the urgency of the situation. Mr Masters’ promised statement on the subject will be awaited with the keenest interest.