The British Market

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 189, 7 May 1940, Page 9

The British Market

Sir, —Nour Christchurch news today indicates that Mr. Hale has joined the ranks of those who arq. afraid that margarine is usurping the place of butter on the English table to the detriment of New Zealand trade. Maj I submit the following points for consideration by Mr. Hale and those who think as he does? (1) There are thousands of famines in England whose standard of living is so much lower than anything we know’ in New Zealand that they ate never able to afford to buy butter at, any time during their life. The more complacent and unobservant among my own friends were shocked to find that many children evacuated to reception areas had never handled a knife and fork and were accustomed to bread and cheap jam, without butter or margarine as a staple diet, with an occasional meal of chipped potatoes from the “chip shop” as a treat. (2) On the Wellington wharf the other day I saw cases of margarine made in Auckland being loaded. Is tin,another indication that New’ Zealand feels quite sure that she can both hunt with the hounds and run with the hare?

(3) Except during the last war when butter was often unobtainable, neither I nor any one of a very wide circle of friends have used margarine for any purpose. With the present ration of Mb. of butter a head a week,' the careful household can manage without having to buy any margarine. From a wide and recent knowledge ot living conditions in England I must dispute the statement of the “young New Zealander in London” quoted by Mr. Hale, and state emphatically that “■economic conditions alone decide who buys margarine and who buys butter. As long as butter is available, those who can afford to buy it will do so, but margarine must be provided for those who cannot afford to buy butter. (4) The English industrialist realizes that import control and secondary industry development in New’ Zealand is closing that market to him. The British Government insists that, next to direct munitions production, export must have primary consideration and encouragement. Having lost Nbw Zealand, we must look elsewhere because, apart from the cry of “Export or die.” we must protect our workers against increased unemployment after the war due to the loss of the New’ Zealand market. Where more suitable than tha markets Germany is losing due to oil'blockade? To secure them we must make some attractive offer in return. Obviously, we must bargain with our ability to absorb primary produce from the erstwhile German strongholds. (5) As a result, it will require mucn more than Dairy Board advertising to keep New Zealand produce to the fore in post-war England. When you bought from us, and w’ere content; to remain a primary producing country, we plastered our works with notices urging our workers to buy New Zealand meat, butter and cheese; we encouraged the co-operative societies—with whom most of our work people do the majority of their shopping—to buy and display New’ Zealand produce, and were happy to feel we were helping those who were helping us. I can see tlie new notices now, “Workers, buy. from those who keep you in your jobs.” —I am, etc., ENGLISHMAN. Wellington, May 4.