TO CONSUMER DIRECT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4305, 17 August 1921, Page 4

TO CONSUMER DIRECT.

NEW WAYS AND MEANS.

DOMINION PRODUCERS’ OPPOI>

TuklTY.

((Special to “Gazette.”)

Of late mdeh has been heard, c

proposals by which endeavours ar

being made to get the New Zealand

producers into direct touch with con-

sumers overseas, by means of improved methods of marketing product’s. Discussions have taken place quite recently at various conferences of representatives of the New Zealand Farmers’ Unions and the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, Prime Minister of New Zealand, who is now in England wor«r ing for jthe end, in view. If, when efie various schemes are consolidated, the ultimate project is successfully brought into operation, the position of the farmer in New Zealand, and the Dominion generally, will be much enhanced in every way., , From Farmer to Consumer.

• Some little time ago a movement was.initiated by the various.Farmers’ Co-op. Associations in both North and South Islands. The outcome was the formation of the Farmers’ Co-op.’ Wholesale Federation (N.Z.), Ltd., with headquarters at Wellington, the object being, on the one hand,, to care for the collective buying of general merchandise, and, on the other hand, to s'ell New Zealand produces in the best markets of the world. To Consumer Direct; '

A London office has been established, with a staff of experts fully equipped to handle consignments of meat, wool, dairy produce, grain, etc. M». A E. Gough, who, during the wai period, was in .charge of: the dairv division of the Ministry jf Food, has been appointed manager. Tn addition to ,other experience Mr Gough for ■many years held a prominent position wi.th .that great industrial co-opera-tive organisation, the Co-operative Wholesale Society, in Manchester, Liverpool, and other parts of Great Britain. • ” ' _ " ■ Quite recently'’the Farmers’ Co-op. Wholesale Federation of New Zealand joined forces with both the Australian and South African Federations, and thus .the London organisation to-day is already handling large shipments bf produce from Ne.w Zealand. Australia, and Africa. Therefore the New Zealand establishment in the near future will be in apposition to contract with both’ large and small retailers for continuity of supplies.

New Zea l and Products Identified. Although .the three countries named are working together oh. the lines indicated, yet very definite arrangements have been made to identify the country.. of origin with all sales of produce. That is to say, it will generalily be kn.own that all the New Zealand products marketed will be known to have come from New Zealand, and the same will apply to Australia and Africa. Farmers, therefore, will be well advised to entrust their respective co-operative associations affiliated with the Federation with their headquarters at Wellington with the shipment and disposals of their produce. On the other hand it will be realised that kindred associations should be prevailed upon 'to accredit the London organisation with all their business. Farmer Retains Fwl® Control. The aim of the Farmers’" Co-op. Wholesale koderation of New Zealand is that farmers through their own organisations should retain complete control of their produce from the point of production right to the consumer. This they are enabled to do through their own co-operative companies. Within the last two years the whole chain of farmers’ co-opera-tive companies in New Zealand has been linked up through the Farmers' Co-op. Wholesale Federation, and now eleven firms have become amalgamated in order to buy and sell in the • world’s best markets. They comprise the Farmers’ Co-op. Auctioneering Co., Ltd., Hamilton, North Auckland Farmers’ Co-op,, Whangarei, Farmers’ Co.-op. Organisation Society, Hawera ; Hawkf ’S’ Bay Farmers’ Co. - op., Napier; Gisborne Farmers’ Co.op., Association, Gisborne ; Tpkomaru Farmers’ Co.-op., Tokomaru Bay • Farmers’ Co-op. Distributing Co.. Ltd.. Wellington ; New Zeland Farmers’ Coop. Association, Christchurch; Canterbury Farmers’ Co.-op. Association, Timaru ; Otago Farmers’ Co.-op. Association, Dunedin; and Southland Farmers’ Co-ou. Association, Inver •■‘argill.