BETTER BRITISH MARKET

Evening Star, Issue 22450, 22 September 1936, Page 8

BETTER BRITISH MARKET

PROSPECT FOR N.Z. PRODUCTS MORE ADVERTISING NECESSARY [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 22. There were more people employed in Great Britain at the present time than ever before in her history, and that was an important thing to New Zealand produce, said Sir James Steel Maitland. At the same time there were a large number of unemployables, even more than before the war, but that applied to all countries. Even if every worker were required for three shifts a day, there would be some who would be unable to work. However, the number of employed in Great Britain meant increased buying power, to the advantage of producers who sent goods from overseas. While New Zealand had a good market in Britain, it could be improved. New Zealand should take a leaf out of Canada’s book. Canada went to all the great exhibitions and put up a really good stand. New Zealand would also have a stand, but it was not done on the scale of Canada. Advertising was expensive, but it had to be done. Nothing would sell itself, and it was up to the New Zealand Government, in co-operation with the producer, to tell the British consumer about New Zealand products. New Zealand had trouble with the adulteration of her butter, and a strong stand should be taken about that sort of thing. England was the world’s worst salesman abroad, and it appeared that New Zealand had inherited! something of that. British manufacturers could still be found trying to sell in £ s d where British currency was not known by the average individual. He was not connected with produce in any way, but he considered that, provided supplies were not grossly in excess of market requirements, values were not likely to go down. A few years ago there was over-production linked up with under-consumption, but as the general public got confidence again consumption tended to reach the level of production. The general trend was for staple commodities to act together, either up or down. ' Consequently, provided! there was not a glut of an important commodity, such as wool, the prices of all basic products would work together, and the recent trend had been upwards. The prices of New Zealand products should remain firm, provided no special set of circumstances appeared.