MARKETING OF NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 274, 13 August 1921, Page 7

MARKETING OF NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE

Sir,—Mr. Massey speaks of’the suggeation of shops in England as .being impracticable, owing to the existing organisations having such a. tremendous bold of the retail trade. In a speech of I quite recent date the Prime Minister I also quoted figures showing the percent- ! age of frozen mutton, etc., supplied from New Zealand as compared with that ; sent from other sources. Is it not reasonable, therefore, to make the following deduction. That in ratio to the amount of mutton and lamb marketed by the producers of this Dominion just that proportion would be deflected from the meat trust’s source of supply, and their stranglehold weakened accordingly. The control of freights means much, but the manipulation of refail shops everything. Twenty-two years ago I suggested establishing shops in England’ to some of mr friends. At the beginning of this year I again interested myself, and wrote Home for certain information. J recently received «. reply which gives food for very serious consideration, both disagreeable and unsatisfactory, Ij'rom a producer’s point of view. For four years and a half during tho war I was Army Purchasing Officer of Supplies (forage, oats, potatoes, etc.), and attached to tho War Office. Travelling close Ulion onn hundred thousand miles in the Old Country I had a unique opportunity of ascertaining what knowledge the general public had regarding New Zealand and. its meat industry. The ignorance of the labouring classes was appalling. Canterbury lamb meant a brand having no mere association with New Zealand than Quaker oats or Nugget blacking. if the retail of our meat is undertaken in. England let me urgently suggest a well thought-out scheme of advertising. Educate the consumer in the picture theatres, combined with explanatory and descriptive lectures, showing the people what kind of country New Zealand is, what it produces, the conditions under wliiclt" our meat is fattened and killed; in fact, how it is dealt with from start to finish, also the uniform carcass brand t< ba used. But, above all. get live and reliable business men on the job, otherwise. the whole enterprise will prove abortive, and will be squeezed out and strangled by trusts and corners, whose policy is alike drastic and far-reaching.— I am. etc., O. C. GRMER.OD. M'airoa, H.B.