OUR EXPORT TRADE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1853, 16 July 1918, Page 4

OUR EXPORT TRADE

A CHAT WITH MR. HOLMES

Seated in a comfortable lounge at the National Hotel, a representative’of this paper 'had'the pleasure of meeting Mr John Holmes, who acted as trade commissioner for New Zealand in around the world in 1897-8.

He came back to New Zealand with a recommendation to his Government urging them to adopt a grading system for frozen meat, al-

so urging in the proposal' the reasons and advantages which might accrue hy the adoption of such a plan; not the least important of which were: (1) The correction of the careless producer; (2) The protection of the honest industrious exporter; and (3) Above all the security which the oversea buyers would obtain by an independent grading certificate.

This, Mr Holmes points out, was a desideratum of the greatest importanee to any country seeking to establish a continuous profitable, exnort trade.

As the result of his advocacy of this system he was chosen by the Government of New Zealand, Industrial Associations, and Agricultural Societies, to travel round the world, and he brought back, with additional evidence, the value of an Independent Grading System. After a good deal'of debate he was entrusted to prepare the necessary act (subject to the Law Cilice’s examination and approval) which ultimately became law, not without tremendous opposition. The result to-day is, and even before the war began, - the grading system by the .Government experts gave such confidence to the overseas buyers in Canada, America, and the United Kingdom that the market for New Zealand had gradually began to rise, and under three years the exports increased from 1,800 tons per annum as low as £lO per ton f.0.b., to 30,000 tons per annum at £3O per ton f.0.b., but as the New Zealand poet says: “The pioneers do not wear the crowns they won.” A question asked by our representative as follows: “You have been some time interested in the frozen meat trade in England”; was answered: “Yes,” and further stated that he, Mr Holmes, had been in the Smithtield market, London, for about six years, and it was remarkable to him that there are freezing companies newly established which do not appoint responsible men in London to conduct sales and disposition of their various consignments, but apparently they are content to nominate agents who are in direct communication and trading relations with the River Plate, Australia and South Africa, and have no special interest to promote the welfare of the New Zealand exporters. —Wa ikato Independen I.