MANUFACTURERS AND DAIRYING

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 106, 7 May 1934, Page 8

MANUFACTURERS AND DAIRYING

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Accosting to Mr. A. E. Mander and Mr. F. L. Hutchinson, secretary and president of tho New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation, Mr. Wm. Goodfellow is held responsible for tho position in which tho New Zoaland dairy industry finds itsolf today, and I am afraid I must agree with them. Modesty .might prevent Mr. Goodfellow from taking tho credit for this entirely to .himself, so permit me to place beforo your readers just what this moans.'

I understand some 25 years ago, in 1908, Mr.' Gjoodfellow. first becamo: interested in the . development of the dairy industry in New Zealand. In that year the dairy industry, after supplying Now Zealand with its total requirements, in dairy pr-oduco for home consumption,' was .able to no less than 26,500 .tons of butter and cheese. This, of course, went to help pay for goods which New Zealand' had to import from other- countriesj and to assist in the" payment of the interest on our National Debt.

In 1934, after providing for the homo market, the dairy industry provided us with 245,000 tons of produce to help pay for our overseas goods and for our increased, interest charges on our increased indebtedness. This every fair-minded citizen will admit is a marvellous achievement, and it gives New Zealand the proud position of being tho greatest exporter of primary products in the world, and for this, according to Mr. Mandor and Mr. Hutehiuson, the credit" is entirely duo to Mr. Goodfellow.

Mr. Mander, however, asks Mr. Goodfellow to explain tho position of the £100,000 subsidy paid by the Government, for superphosphates. I think I can.furnish -this information. When the , Government offered to. subsidise the: superphosphates industry it was with, the express purpose of reducing tho price to an uneconomic figure, thus assisting the farmed to maintain his production in the interests of air concerned. \W must bear in mind whenthe Government decided to do this they doubtless realised the. New Zealand dairy farmer sold his products in open competition with the world;, he had no tariffs "to aid him,' and the result was the Government decided to assist- him to the extent of 10s per 'ton. When this offer was made to the superphosphates industry the industry decided to subsidise the. Government's generous offer by adding 7s 6d to it, making a reduction in the cost of the commodity to the farmer of 17s 6d per ton. The fertiliser industry is an excellent example of what can be done in the way of developing sound industries without the aid of a tariff'and not at the expense of the community.' ■

I thank Mr. Mander aiid Mr. Hutchinson for drawing my attention to these

facts and giving Mr. Goodfcflow credit for tho dairy industry as it is today, and I feel sure Mr: Goodfellow would be only too delighted to repay the compliment and' tell tho peoplo what has been done-for'tho development of tho secondary industries by Mr. Mandor and Mr. Hntchinson if they will bo good enough to give- us tho export figures of the industries concerned during tho past 25 years. What have- these industries provided towards tho'exports of New Zealand during this period to offset tho tariff that has been provided by| the community? : I have been ■unable.to find any reference to this iii'tlie Year Book or other, statistical return. In conclusion, might I offer a little advice to these gentlemen—to endeavour to .refrain from personalities in expounding their theories.—l ami etc., J. HISLOP, Chairman U.K. Manufacturers' Assu.,-Auckland Branch. " Auckland, May 3.