N.Z. PRODUCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 December 1924, Page 4

N.Z. PRODUCE.

• until MAKKKTS ASSI IIIII). WKI.LIXCTOX. Dec. S. Mr .1. S. .lessen, of Wairoa. Hawke’s Bay. wlm is vice-chairman of Ibc .Meal Producers’ Board, and lias been tin a health trip to the .Mother Country and the ( 7 111 Li 11 -.‘lit, arrived here to-day. and gocsSouili to-night. While in Knglnml be spent several weeks in London al Die conference reganling freights, lie al li Iravellcil e \ leic-i cel v in tie- ten I rnl lounlries of Kurupc. visiting Amtria. (V.echo-Sluvakia. (lei many. Holland and Switzerland, lie found that the demand for frozen meat is steadily increasing. This is evidenced li.v the over-increasing s.hil iments of frozen beef from the Argentine to Hie Contincut. It only wants a general revival ol hade, says .Mr .lessen, to lead to a largo increase in (lie consumption of meal mi (In' Cimlincnt, ami that revival of Iradc seems to be very near. Tlie material wealth of the central Kil-

loncan (oiiiitries i*, clearly shown un all sides hv tlie wonderful crops and the manufacturing activity to ho seen on all hands. The people work' long hums, the laud is rich, and the natural

resources of the countries are great. The only factors lacking are credit facilities. and these are now being arranged. It looks as if a trade boom on the foul incut is imminent. In regard to the new contract with the shipping companies with respect to the carriage of refrigerated ptoduce. Mr .Icssep said: ‘‘l consider it was very wise -in the interests of the Dominion to make a contract for the next three years. The prices arranged place the Dominion in rather a better po-ition than we occupied in lire-war years, that is. as compared with the Argentine, our main competitor. I am strongly nl the opinion that, we should enneentrntc now on the ctlicicncy and the regularity of the shipping service from Xew Zealand to England. A fast and regular service can only he carried out h.v shipping fleets able thoroughly to cope with the trade, ami il is of paramount importance that, wo should do everything we possibly can to ieduce the time between New Zealand and her markets. This ran he done by giving the .shipping companies a contract lor three years, thus enabling, them to make their plans to provide vessels for this trade which will cut down the lime. I hope to see the time reduced Lo 3(1 days from Wellington to l.ondon, via Panama.

“Everything points to very good prices for Xew Zealand produce for some time to come, and if I may von lure to give a word of advice to my fellow-farmers in the Dominion. it

wolml he this; that now is their time to reduce their liabilities and own their own Inrms. Wo are enjoying an era of prosperity undreamt of by our fathers, and if we use the opportunity rightly the. whole farming community ul Xew Zealand can get into a position in which they will nut he troubling so much about the price of money. The outlook is decidedly good, hut even high prices may he dangerous if people are earned away with them. If the high prices of wool, meat, and dairy produce lead to over-speculation and not to strengthening their position, the result may not Im> so heuelieial to the producers as it should he. It is to he hoped that the lessen of the past few years will not he forgotten.” Mr Jessep said that there had been a very marked improvement in the handling of meat on the wharves in l.ondon since he was in England two years ago. lie pointed out also that the increased imports of frozen beef to the Continent meant a better London market for Xew Zealand produce.