WORLD’S FOOD SUPPLIES

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24905, 19 June 1946, Page 8

WORLD’S FOOD SUPPLIES

CONTRIBUTION FROM NEW ZEALAND

MR NASH PRAISES PRODUCERS (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 18. "Amazing'’ was the description applied to the work of New Zealand’s primary producers by the DeputyPrime Minister (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. He said it was true to question whether any country had made a greater contribution to feeding the world than New Zealand.

Mr Nash referred to the 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 inspiration. 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 a sinjilar inspiration had come from the depression of the thirties, because the world took responsibility for the unemployed, and all the countries which had accepted collective responsibility for unemployment were now organising for full employment. The president of the association, Mr C. J. Hewson, who is 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 by which the producers of both Britain and the Dominions reaped fair rewards.

"We would welcome any arrangement in our trade that would guarantee economic prices to the farmers and also to the Dominion producers,” he added.

The leader of the delegation (Mr W. W. Mulholland) said 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. “When you speak of your gratitude to us. I cannot help feeling how much we owe to you,” he added. Referring to the mutual interests of producers and distributors, Mr Mulholland said that very great economic and physical changes were coming. He asked for “sympathetic and active cooperation in working out the best methods by which to give the consumer the best article in the world in the best condition in the world.” The members of the delegation, Mr Nash, and the New Zealand High Commissioner (Mr W. J. Jordan) received 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 at the dinner.