NEW MARKETS FOR DAIRY PRODUCTS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 33, 3 November 1919, Page 8

NEW MARKETS FOR DAIRY PRODUCTS

TRADE WITH THE EAST UfIGED. At the meeting of tho Palnierston North branch of the New Zealand I'armers' Union, held at Palmerston >iorth on Saturday. Mr. John Balsillio brought up the question of the possibilities of opening up and extending trado with the Last, more especially in rqspect to the b) - products of the dairy industry on which the Dominion'depended so much for'its revenue, 110 mentioned the fact that when in Wellington he had met a business man from Singapore who had only been three weeks in the country. That gentleman had expressed himself as so satisfied with conditions' here that he had decided to settle in New Zealand. In reply to questions as to how Singapore was oft' for mill: and meat, ho .replied to the effect that the people there were dependent on condensed milk for their supplies. A I'ajr quantity of meat was' -now being consumed amongst the wliito population, and the natives were also taking to it. It was practically all irpzen .meat, and a fair proportion of it camo from-Now Zealand, but when askVd "Low- our product was getting on there he was quite unable to say. It certainly did not go there direct from New Zealand, but must, have Tcached its dostination by some round-about method. The gentleman promised Mr, Balsillie that he would write, to Singapore and endeavour to find out by what channel our meat reached that country. Mr. Balsillio pointed out that now that returned soldiers were being settled on Jiigh-pric-cd-land it was the duty of the (iovevnnient' to endeavour to explore Iresli markets in order that prices' at present ruling for our produce would bo nt least maintained, and fresh openings "made for the increase expccted in our exports. , . . .

\iJfc was resolved"That tho Govern-ment-be urged to apnoint a representar tivb -to. .investigate tiio possibilities of opening_up trade .with Eastern markets with a view to developing business with our dried milk and meat products; that the Sub-Provincial Executive he asked to .consider tho best means of obtaining the co-operation of milk suppliers in fully developing tho' milk industry, and making the most advantageous use of the byproducts, which in the Ma.uawatu district are worth some quarter of a million per snnum." - ■