NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 40, 10 November 1921, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE

MARKETING CONDITIONS DISCUSSED MARLBOROUGH PRODUCER’S VIEW : / “CONDITIONS IN ENGLAND DEPLORABLE” After a stay of several months in England, Mr_H. D. Vavasour, of Ugbrooke, Marlborough, who for many years has taken a prominent part in the organising activities of the Dominion producers, has returned with a striking account of the state, of affairs at Home, with respect to the | marketing of New Zealand’s frozen meat, butter, cheese, and other produce. This was not Mr. Vavasour’s first acquaintance with the handling of the New Zealand exports at London. It may be remembered that ha made soma outspoken comments on the subject after a first-hand investiga- t tion in 1908, and that after Uns' other visit to England in 1916 he again condemned the methods as exceedingly unsatisfactory. What he said on those occasions . Mr. Vavasour now repeats with' added emphasis. I Deferring particularly to the frozen meat trade, Mr. Vavasour told a Press representative that so far as New Zealand’s interests in England were concerned, the conditions were simply appalling. “The meat is put on to the market in a most disgraceful way,” he said, "and figuratively and literally it stinks in tho nostrils of the people at Home. Our trade is in downright disrepute. Ths system is about as faulty as it can bein fact, there is no system worthy of the name. It seems to be no one's responsibility to look after our business interests and protect our reputation. Tho High Commissioner’s office is absolutely no value whatever in this connection. People have no means of getting information as to where they can obtain Now Zealand meat; and the same remark applies to butter, cheese, and other produce. Our disadvantages 'in this respect are in marked contrast to the efficiency of the Argentine system, which ensures the placing of our rival’s meat on the market in a proper way. In the case of New Zealand trade the handling of the meat is deplorably unbusinesslike. Our produce is presented to the publio in a dirty, filthy, and most unattractive state. What else could be expected, seeing that there was no responsible authority to see that it was sent out in decent condition?” Grading System Required. In 1916, Mr. Vavasour went on to say, he drew attention to the necessity for a Goyernment system of grading and branding t*he whole of New Zealand’s meat exportation. In communications to the Prise he strongly urged the desirableness of this guarantee of quality. He would now like to say that he was more than ever convinced that this would be the right thing to do. Hitherto oojne of the companies had been averse to the idea of universal grading, because they claimed that their own branding met the caso, and they did not wish to change their own distinctive marks. “But," said Mr. Vavasour, "it is imperative that the producers should combine under one Government system if their meat is to be marketed to the best advantage. There is just as good meat going forward from the North Island as that sent out from Canterbury, and at the same time just as bad meat is put on the market from the south ns that exported from the north. . Therefore there is no valid reason why a common principle should not be applied.” Need For Commissioner'. As ho had observed, the manner and ths condition in wluch our meat urns marketed seemed to 'be no one’s concern. At the beginning of last year, just before Sir James Allen left for London to take up the position of High Commissioner, Mr. Vavasour drew the attention of tho Government to the necessity for the appointment of a special trade representative whoso duty it would be to see that justice was done to New Zealand's’’ export interests. He repeated now that it was most essential to make such an appointment., The High Commissioner’s functions did not cover the caso. He should bo left to look after tljo general affairs of State, ind in addition tho Government should engage a man of the highest commercial ability, giving- him a salary, say, of .£3600 a year, to qjr.tend to tho business side of tho country’s interests. Mr. Vavasour suggested that tho cost of such an establishment might be met by a tax of, say, Is. per cent, on t‘ho value of the exports. This value in 1919 was twentyeight and a half millions, tho taxation of which at the rate suggested, would return .£l-1,250, which should amply, provide for tho propel supervision and conduct of tho Now Zealand trade all round. However tho, cost wag mrt, tho investment would, he was certain, pay handsomely. The present system, or lack of system, was a cause of serious loss. It was tolling very severely against tho finance and tho prosperity of the Dominion. It would be folly not to try and remedy it. A competent trade representative, working with a national grading system, should be able to cure tho radical weaknesses of the present jnarketing methods. Mr. Vavasour suggested that for one thing distributing depots should ho established all over England from which our meat and dairy produce could lie sold. Ho would not go so far as to advocate State shops; hut it was very necessary ..that the New Zealand supplies should ho brought more closely into touch with the consuming public. "People constantly asked me,” said Mr. Vavasour, "where- they could purchase tho much-vaunted New Zealand mutton, lamb, butter, cheese, etc.; and I was told that repeated., applications for information were made to the High Commissioner’s office, hut no satisfaction could be obtained. Neither our meat nor our butter gets on to the retail market'on its own merits. New Zealand butter has, generally speaking, been practically unobtainable. It is largely utilised for the purpose of mixing with butter of inferior quality so as to bring them, up to a. more saleable standard. Imperial Purchase. Tho Imperial authorities’ system of purchase and control had had a most unfortunate effect 6'n the reputation of Now Zealand in tho meat trade. It had intensified the position as he found it in 1908 and 1916, and was largely responsible for the present low prices. Mr. Vavasour said ho was convinced that tho Dominion would have to take action on the lines he had suggested if it was going to recover its reputation. "In a letter published in The Dominion on January 28, 1916, I stated that when in England in 1908 I spent a considerable part of my time in investigating tho frozen meat business and in an interview which the New Zealand Press Association had with me in London I complained of many abuses which then obtained, and stated that the proper conduct of the trade seemed to he no one’s business. This time I have come to tho conclusion that the same thing can bo said af nearly etc whole of Now

Zealand’s food ekport trade. My latest experience is that the conditions have not improved, but, if. anything, are worse. In 1916 I also drew attention to tho congestion of our trade in London, and urged that the New Zealand trade should be distributed, among tho four ports —London, Hull, Bristol, and Liverpool. I pointed out that, according to the official railway map of tho Railway Clearing House of England and Wales thq area of these countries would be best served in this way. For instance, London served a population cf 15,383,868; Hull, 11.282,881; Liverpool, 9,882,560; and tho Bristol Channel ports 7,669,786. Again I wish to say that I consider it essential to distribute our produce between the four places instead of dumping the great bulk of it at I.ondon. Menace of the Trusts. “Tn conclusion. I can only emphasise what I wrote in 1908—that it is most desirable for tho New Zealand companies to put their heads together and try to devise a means of properly supervislhg and conducting the moat trade of the Dominion. Tho whole position is worse than iff-was in 1908. It is a haphazard and unbusinesslike state of affairs, and oui* meat has fallen into great disrepute in consequence.” Mr. Vavasour added that he would like once again to warn New Zealand against the American meat trusts. Ho fully agreed with the views expressed by Mr W D Lysnar in an interview in May as to the disastrous effect cf the trust methods on tho interests of the American farmers While in England he noticed Sir Francis Bell’s reply to tho protest made byttho United States Government against the refusal to grant Armour and Company a meat-expoit license—that this action was based on tho report of tho Federal State Commission—and he now wished to say that he thoroughly commended the attitudo taken up by the New Zealand Government. For years he Tlacl been, ugring on Mr. Massey the wisdom of preventing the trusts from getting a footing in New Zealand. As far back as 1908 ho pressed this matter on Mir. Massey, and again in 1919 as Mr. Massey was setting out for England be (Mr. Vavasour) was one of a deputation representing fhe SheepoWners’ Union which waited on the Prime Minister, and asked him to go into this vital question. Mr. Massey promised to look into the matter, and, he was glad to say, the result was tlie policy evidenced by the restrictions now being applied to Armour and Co. It astonished him, said Mr. Vavasour, that, havfhg obtained recognition from Mr. Massey of the danger that would assuredly arise front uncontrol of tho meat trusts, the farming community should be so crqssly stupjd ns to sign the petition circulated in behalf of Armour and Co.