POST-WAR NEW ZEALAND

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 36, 24 December 1943, Page 8

POST-WAR NEW ZEALAND

SUPPLYING FAMISHED EUROPE

What will be the position of New Zealand primary industry after the war? This question is as of much, 'interest to manufacturers as it is to farmers and it is one of vital importance to the whole community,, said the Secretary of. the Auckland Manufacturers Association, Mr A. F. T. Chorlton, in an address to the Auckland Creditmen's Club reccntIj\. Mr Chorlton said that in his recent travels around New Zealand, lie had been struck by a feeling of optimism that seemed to pervade most sections of the community regarding New Zealand's economic position in the. post Avar period. To what extent was this optimism justified—in primary production, for instance?

"New Zealandcrs are the heaviest, consumers of meat and butter in the world, but notwithstanding that, we consume only a small percentage of our output of these commodities," said Mr Chorlton. "Without increased population or local industries using farm production, Ave cannot look forward to- increased absorption within New Zealand of these basic commodities. Britain, our main overseas market, has> al-. readj r told us that, despite the Atlantic i Charter, for defence purposes .she will be forced to maintain and assist her own farming industry after the war. Quotas Ave re imposed on our farm exports to Britain prior to the Avar. Can Britain, with a steady declining population and with the need to protect her own farming, take an unrestricted amount of our primary production after the war? That is a question which concerns every farmer in New Zealand.

The answer to this question, lie! had been told, was a food in Europe, said, Mr Chorlton. This( answer Had to be examined very critically. The. Germans, had shown in the Ukraine that Ileitis: could be sown again immediately after the time of battle had swept over them. Replacement of livestock was a longer process, but Europe was demonstrating at the moment that it was possible to live with very little meat if vegetable fats were obtainable. Then there was the question of payment for our food products. Manufactured, goods would not be available.' Presumably the 'impover-. ished state of Europe would create further debts with New Zealand as the creditor. Apart from these general considerations affecting the whole farming industry, .said the speaker,, there were still more serious factors affecting particular industries. The British Ministry of Food, was advising consumers that vitaminised margarine, at two-thirds the price of fresh butter, was at least its equal. Gould New Zealand maintain the price of its butter against this competition? Even before the war, nylon was driving down the. price of natural silk. It was certain that other sxaithe.tic fibres would lie serious competitors to wool in the post war world market. Even 'in the field of meat production, it appeared, possible that the dehydrated product would affect the demand for chillcd and frozen meat. Plans for closer settlement of land (Continued at foot next column)

and for increased farm production, said Mr Chorlton. Avould only increase the problem of disposal of surpluses' unless an expanding market were secured. The best possible market Avas an internal market based, upon increased population and neAA* industries.