INQUIRIES ABROAD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 20 January 1931, Page 7

INQUIRIES ABROAD

DOMINION PRODUCTS PRIME MINISTER’S ACTIVITIES TRADE WITH CANADA (By Telegraph—Special to "The Mail”) WELLINGTON, This Day. “During my recent visit to Canada and Great Britain” said the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes on being interviewed after his arrival to-day, “I devoted considerable time to investigating questions affecting the export trade of the Dominion with those countries. It will be remembered that notification had been received early last year from the Canadian Government that the then existing tariff duty on New Zealand butter imported into Canada would be terminated at the end of six months, i.e., in October last, and that new tariff arrangements would come into force. In the meantime a General Election took place in Canada, resulting in a new Government being returned to office pledged to impose a greatly increased duty on our butter. This new duty came into force on the date I arrived in Ottawa. I had several conferences both with the Prime Minister of Canada and the Minister of Commerce, at which I pointed out the value of the Canadian trade with New Zealand, whicli showed a substantial balance in Canada’s favour, and strongly urged a reconsideration of the proposed duty which would have the effect of shutting out our principal article of export to the sister Dominion, besides making the trade too one-sided to be continued, our policy naturally being to buy in the market in which we sell our produce. It was not possible to arrive at any definite conclusion in the short time at my disposal in Canada, and the matter was left over for further discussion in London. I regret to say that these further conversations proved fruitless the Canadian Government ow ing to having definitely committed themselves to the imposition of this increased duty, finding it impossible to make any alteration.” “It is my intention” said Mr Forbes, “to discuss with my colleagues what action the New Zealand Government should take to meet the present position which is obviously too one-sided to be allowed to remain as it is.”.

WOOL TRADE “In accordance with the undertaking given by me before leaving New Zealand, to investigate the. position of our wool trade in Great Britain,” said Mr Forbes, “I visited Leeds and Bradford and got in touch with the leading representatives of the woollen trade. I discussed fully with them measures for improving the marketing and quality of our product. I found a strong desire to assist the New Zealand woolgiower, but the present world-wide depression which was affecting the trade of these centres very seriously, prevented very much being done in this direction. Most of the factories are being reduced to half-time working. I had an opportunity of visiting the Torridon Wool Research Institute at Leeds where many valuable research operations were being conducted. Many of these have a direct application to New Zealand wools and I am hopeful as a result of the information gained that our woolgrowers will benefit accordingly. I also visited the Bradford Technical College, where further avenues for the use of wool were being explored. Taken altogether, this work should prove of the greatest value to the industry, both to the manufacturer and the producer, and it is urged that the woolgrowers in the Dominion should co-operate in carrying out research on similar lines in own country. I may point out that South American wool growers are adopting this policy in regard to their wool. “Speaking generally, I found the quality of New Zealand wool highly spoken of, but in some cases it was considered- that the quality was not up to the standard of past years. While at present it is impossible to forecast the future in regard to prices it is the opinion of manufacturers that wool will alway be the most important factor in the manufacture of clothing, and with the improvement of trade it will come into its own again.”

NEW ZEALAND MEAT Referring to New Zealand meat Mr Forbes said: “I visited the great market of Smithfield oh more than one occasion and attended a meeting with the heads of the various selling organisations arranged by Mr R. S. Forsyth, whose work as London manager of the New Zealand Meat Producers Board is very highly spoken of by those engaged in the trade. Matters in connection with the supply and quality of New Zealand mutton and lamb were fully discussed and the general opinion was that our meat was of high quality and that its popularity was increasing. I also visited the meat markets at Glasgow, Bristol and Liverpool and found a strong desire that these markets should be developed to much greater extent than at present. In connection with the sea carriage of our frozen meat I visited the low temperature research station at Cambridge where problems regarding bloom and moulds and other conditions are being investigated and much valuable information is being gained.”

BUTTER AND CHEESE “The depressed state of the Home markets” said Mr Forbes, “is also reflected in the low prices that liavp for some months been ruling for our butter and cheese. I invited the heads of the firms engaged in the sale of our dairy produce to meet me and discussed with them the unsatisfactory position in regard to the low level of prices, and the marked disparity between the price of our product and that of Danish butter. Several reasons were advanced for this, and suggestions made for improving the position and also in regard to quality. Comments were made in connection with the openness in our cheese, and also with the shipping of the standardised grade. These matters I hope to discuss with the Dairy Board. “T visited the dairy research institute at Reading and was shown the research work being conducted there. I also had the privilege of having a conference with the research officers regarding the problems specially related to New Zealand dairy produce and gained much valuable information.” FRUIT INDUSTRY “Tn collection with the fruit industry I visited the Covent Garden market in London and discussed with seme of the principal importers the unsatisfactory siate of the market, particularly for last season’s apples. This was ascribed to the glutted state of the market owing to large shipments of American fruit arriving at the same time as our own. It was admitted that the New Zealand apples were superior in quality, packing, and grading to any other imported apples. It was suggested that continental markets might be developed, especially for the sale of our larger fruit. Particulai'ly interesting was my visit to the East Mailing research station, where orchard problems are being dealt with and improvement of apple stocks is be-

ing undertaken. At the same station the matter of the sea carriage of fruit is being investigated, the actual ship’s hold conditions being reproduced for the purpose of carrying out the experiments. It is confidently expected that the heavy losses in the sea carriage of fruit will as a result be obviated.”

MARKETING OF HONEY i “During my stay in London” continued the Prime Minister, “I was much interested in the progress which it was very satisfactory to note is being made in the marketing of New Zealand honey. The distribution of our product is in the hands of C. and E. Morton Limited, whose stores I visited and was shown the process of packing. The organisation appears to be very complete and the standard brand of Imperial Bee Honey has now become firmly established and is undoubtedly the most po : pular imported honey on the market. “I should like here to mention the efficient work which is being performed by the High and his staff and the representatives of the various produce boards in London in pushing the sale of our produce in the United Kingdom. The excellent window displays of our produce in the High Commissioner’s office dajly command the admiration of hundreds of interested spectators. This in itself is a valuable advertising medium. The sentiment of buying Empire goods is a growing one and much can be done by this means to increase our Empire trade.” "In conclusion” said Mr Forbes, “amongst other interesting places I was able to visit was the stock quarantine station at Tilbury, docks under the administration of the Empire Marketing Board, where all pedigree stock for export have to upndergo a period of quarantine under the strictest supervision to enure freedom from disease, particularly foot and mouth. On the date of my visit a large number of pedigree stock were in the station awaiting shipment to Australia. The opinion is definitely expressed by the veterinary officers in charge that there is no possibility of diseased stock being exported after the regulation period of quarantine. Lastly I would mention my visit to the plant research station at Aberystwyth, in Wales, where very valuable work is being done in the direction of improving pastures, plants, grasses, clovers, etc., as well as many interesting experiments in grazing practice. This important institution is under the direction of Professor Stapleton, with whom I had the privilege of staying for a week-end visit. Our own plant research station at Palmerston North is working in close co-operation with this station and there is a system "of interchange of officers between them. In addition to the foregoing I had the opportunity of conferring with prominent- financial and commercial people and had the advantage of numerous conversations in regard to matters affecting the interests of New Zealand. lam hopeful” added Mr Forbes, “that the information I have gained wll be of some practical use in connection with the consideration of our here.