N.Z. FOODSTUFFS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1930, Page 7

N.Z. FOODSTUFFS

Speaking at the Chambers of Commerce banquet in London last- month, Air G. A\ r . Forbes, Prime Alinister of New Zealand, referred to the work which Chambers of Commerce had accomplished, and mentioned that the recent Congress of the Federation in Lrndon had by no means passed unnoticed in New Zealand. Referring to the important part which New Zealand played in the Empire economics, Air Forbes mentioned that the Dominion was one of the most important sources of some of Britain’s food supplies. Afore than half the mutton and lamb imported into this country was produced in New Zealand, more than half the cheese, almost a quarter of the butter, and in normal years a third of the honey. Last year the Dominion was the second largest supplier of wool to the Afother Country, and New Zealand ranked as the second mtosfc important frozen and chilled meat exporting country in the world, with an international position the same in regard to the export- of butter. The Dominion headed the list of all countries in the per capita amount of her total trade, and it was also per capita Britain’s best customer, the individual purchase figure for last year being £l4 11s Id. GOOD AVILL. Tn respect of inter-imperial trade, there must, in his opinion, he greater Empire good will, sympathy, and consideration on the part of those who directed the channels of trade ana those who handled Empire goods. As a concrete instance, New Zealand butter had been declared by the Afedieal Research Council to he superior to any in its all-tlie-year round food value or vitamin content; vet to-day for some time part this country had been paying considerably over 20s n. cwt. more for Danish butter. The difference in price could not be due to quality. To what was it due? Tt was all to the advantage of Great Britain to buy New Zealand produce as against foreign. The greater proportion of the money soent came hack for manufactures. Last year Britain spent £19,750,000 with Denmark for hotter alone, and Denmark’s total purchases from Britain amounted only to £10,671,000. New Zealand, on the other hand, spent on British manufactures over £22,090,000. Denmark’s per capita purchase from Britain was only £3 0s 8d as against New Zealand’s £l4 11s Id.

Air Forbes recalled that New Zealand was giving to British manufac-

tures to-day a preference varying from 20 to 25 per cent., which was the most liberal preference of any part oi the Empire. The preferences this year would be worth over £5-J- million. Several British manufactures entered free of duty, as against a heavy tariff to the foreigner. This was of very real and practical assistance to the British manufaet urer.

New Zealand had ben experiencing economic difficulties due to depressed markets in Britain, and there were anxious times ahead, but they would come through all right. They were anxiously looking for a revival of the produce markets in this country, and when that came they would be in smooth water again, and once more be purchasing from Britain at full capacity. AYhen be said full capacity, lie did not view their purchasing power by the size of their population, hut from the comparison that to-day every New Zealander, as he said before, individually bought from Britain goods to the value of £l4 11s Id. as against the Russian’s 6d, the Frenchman’s 15s sd, the Brazilian’s 6s lOd, and the Argentine’s £2 12s lOd. Surely, added Forbes, the New Zealander’s custom was worth having. (Cheers).