The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, 1st. JUNE, 1925. PRIMARY PRODUCTS MARKET.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, Ist. JUNE, 1925. PRIMARY PRODUCTS MARKET.

Sm Thomas Mackenzie M.L.C., who arrived from London last woek said that during his visit to Croat Britain he had considerable opportunity of getting a grasp of commercial questions, especially as they affected the Dominion and its relation with Great Britain. He attended a conference at Brussels on commerce and took part in the Imperial Conference on commercial subjects held at the Guildhall, London. He was also present at the wool conference at Bradford, and the International Refrigeration Conference in London. Having just concluded a ( sea voyage, .Sir Thomas said he was not familiar with the latest phases of commercial matters, but statistically the position of wool was exceedingly strong. Recently an authority in London stated that the consumption of wool in 1924 was 300,000,000 pounds above tli e world’s production for 1923. At> an important wool conference held at Bradford sijme months ago it was

stated that prices were altove prolitiilde manufacture. Another authority, in describing the set-hack in commerce in Britain, remarked that wool tissue showed a. large increase. The exports of wool tissue dortclilied 10 per tent., whereas other industries had declined enormously. For install e. the exports of machinery in 1921 wi re only (>7 |or cent, of tlie 1913 volume, cotton yarns 77 per (cut., and rollon pine- goods 03 per cent. lie expressed Ills faith in tlie future of wool. What was vanled was a u nrld's agricultural census, not. only of present and prospective |.ri (liietion. blit also ol goods in store. The latter it. formation it ua.s also difficult- in obtain, and it was the uncertainty of this factor which made a forecast so difficult. The meat situation. he said, was exceedingly good. There were .511,091) toils le-s of frozen meat imported into Great Britain in 1921 lli.in in tin- pm intis year. There was a redueiion of 1.5 |cr cent. In lamb ami mutton and 17 per cent in frozen beef, whilst .hilled beef increased 8 per cent. ‘‘This,” said Sir Thomas, “brings up another very important point, and that is the question of (111 i ker steam t ommunieation l-etu ecu New /calami and the Old Country. A- I have slated, chilled heel lias increase 1 by S per cent. The getting of chilled beef on the Home market is d great imI'ortaii e to us. I think the producing interests of New Zealand should combine their shipping rnnlracts ami ask for s; eedier cominiiuieatioii v. iili llrilain. It should he possible to get a 39 days’ serviie. Naturally the shipping companies would require to got fairly long contra.ts with respect to our meat, dairy and other exports. The terms would have to he fair and equitable to belli the productive interests and the shipping companies. T feel very strongly in regard to the importance of speedier communication. This country stands exceedingly high in regard to its attractiveness, not only for settlement, hut also for tourists. \'o country in the world ran offer the same delightful scenic nftrsctions that we can. Speaking of the butter market. Sir Thomas said that Denmark had lessened her compelition with us owing to her increased exports to Germany. At least that was the position when he came away. He observed in a commercial paper, however. that it was expected that Siberia would place in 1920 about 50.000 tons of butter on London market. “We do not," he said, “stand in as strong a position in respect to dairy produce as we do in regard to mutton and lamb. This is a matter that requires exceedingly careful handling."