NEW AVENUES OF WEALTH FOR NEW ZEALAND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4501, 6 September 1930, Page 3

NEW AVENUES OF WEALTH FOR NEW ZEALAND.

OPTIMISTIC ANT) INTERESTING ADDRESS BY -MR. EDWARD NEWMAN.

An optimistic note was struck in regard to the future of this country in general and Eoxton in particular by Mr. Edward Newman,, during the course of his address on “New Avenues of Wealth for New Zealand,” at the monthly meeting of the Eoxton Lunch Club, held in Whyte’s Hotel on Thursday. 'Mr. Newman said time would not

permit him to touch on New Zealand’s present' condition but the 1 great majority of people could not but admit that although New Zea-

land had not yet reached a state

akin to that of Australia, it was travelling in the same direction. New Zealand had been overborrowing and latterly there had been a want of confidence in respect to the various industries and trades which was not surprising when it was remembered what a large sum had been spent on unemployment last year. A few years ago, he and other members of Parliament, if they did not see what was happening now, at all events saw enough of what was happening in Australia 'to recognise that some soil of a crisis was not very far off. He, among others, had begun to wonder what the reaction on New Zealand would be. Knowing that this

country was linked up with the Commonwealth' financially and otherwise, it had been impossible to believe that the crisis there could come without having a considerable effect on the Dominion. It had had that effect. The result of the observations by himself and his associates had been that they agreed that it was of the greatest possible importance to New Zealand to develop the resources that existed within its boundaries, as speedily as possible. Thqy bad looked round for directions in which there were opportunities for this to he done. The first that occurred to I hem was that of the pig and poultry products export trade. In various countries the pig and poultry industries were run alongside the dairy industry, but in New Zealand this was not so, and there was practically irt> export trade in these lines from the Dominion. This fact had excited their curiosity, and they discovered that these two industries were effectually blocked by the customs duties which existed on the foodstuff's required for these animals. He had brought the subject up- on two occasions in the Legislative Council, and he thought that the majority of the members were in favour of the view that he presented to them; but the Upper House had no power to interfere

with any matter of finance, and he had no alternative but to ask to withdraw the motion after the matter had been discussed. However, it attained its Object, by bringing before the people of the country the facts of the- case.

IIO ! W TO DEAL WITH UNEMPLOYMENT. The Unemployment Committee set up by the Government, Mi’ Newman continued, had taken the same view as himself; he had formerly : .nne to the determination that,, if a crisis of the present kind were encountered, inquiries should be made in certain specific; directions. He ,iad thought that one of the best solutions of* the unemployment and some of the other serious problems that had to be dealt with in New Zealand was closer settlement of : he land —occupied and .unoccupied

-Hint was suitable for closer settlement. Greater population was required if the country was going to be successful as a community; and new sources of income should be developed. Two countries were conspicuous for-having solved tlie unemployment problem, these being France and 'Denmark. The reason

for this was that the land was, 1 rom. an economical point of view, held in as small areas as possible, lie felt confirmed in what he had

ibeliejven for a, long’ time—that the closer settlement of the land was

of the most vital importance in Mew Zealand. It was from that point of view that he wanted to see Ihe pig' and poultry industries developed. They were associated with small farming, and no farming interests could be started with smaller capital, while the returns were inucli. more rapid than in the case of sheep or dairy farming. Until quite recently, a. man required quite a large amount of capital to commence as a sheep-farmer, and a considerable amount to start as a dairy farmer. 1 MAGNITUDE OF BRITISH MARKET.

The United Kingdom in 1927 spent £56,000,000 on pig products. Of that sum Denmark received £24,000,000, and v New Zealand £330,000. There was no question about the quality >of the Dominion’s pig products; that had been admitted. He had reports from the ’Home authorities admitting that these products wtere as good as anything of the kind that was landed on the English market. This showed that- there was a large market - waiting for New Zealand if the farmers could take advantage of it. In 1027 Britain spent £22,250,000 on the importation of poultry products, eggs ire shell accounting for £16,000,000. Out of the total, only £4,000,000 was distributed in the British Empire, the balance going to foreign nations. There was an opening there for the people of New Zealand, if they felt inclined to take advantage of it. iVVith regard to a market for poultry and eggs, it was an all round market in the Old Country and a very large one, larger than mutton and lamb combined. It was, therefore, worth going after. Any (Concluded on page 4).