NEW MARKETS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 353, 14 October 1932, Page 5

NEW MARKETS

("Post" Special Cornmissioner) .

ottawa opinion NEW ZEALAND MUST FIND FRESH FIELDS TO GONQUER OVERSEAS REPRESENTATION

Wellington, Thursday. The importance of improved marketing methods and of developing new markets, was emphasised by the Rt. Hori. J. G. Coates, leader of the New Zealand delegation to Ottawa, in the eourse of his statement to the House of Representatives last evening regarding the deliberations of the conference. "Foremost amongst our economic problems is that of marketing our products," said Mr. Coates. "I do not belittle the importance of giving constant attentiori to the production when I say that to-day the emphasis has moved from production to the effective marketing of our produce. "New Zealand will long look to the United Kingdom to absorb the bulk of her exports— indeed, Great Britain's market is vital to our very economic existence; and for this reason we must be prepared to play our part in assisting her industries. At the same time it is incumbent upon our producers and manufacturers to seareh" out and create new markets and new outlets for their products. Trades Representatives "Already useful assistance is be- . irig given by the Trade Cornmissioner service, and it is evident that in default of such service our exports will suffer. There are many activities in trade promotion which individual manufacturers arid exporters cannot be expeeted to uridertake, services which are essential in the- gerieral iriterest. This is ri fact which is. frequently overlooked when criticisiri i's levelled against government expenditure on Trade Cornmissioner services. It would be false emonomy to curtail these, particularly at a time wheri wider markets are our pressing rieed. It is now most urgent that our producers, manufacturers and the Goverriment should pool their efforts in establishing much-needed new outlets. "In the sphere of marketing, New Zealand primary producers are singularly fortunate in the fact that already their export interests are assisted by their own responsible boards The value of these bodies was clearly shown at the Ottawa Conference. Their representatives were able to speak with authority for the importarit primary industries; we were able to turn to them for information and consultation. "No other part of the Empire was so fortunately placed as New Zealand in this respect, and it would be reasonable to say that the definite tendency is for other countries to work along somewhat the same Iines as New Zealand in setting up producers' direct organisations. I cannot too strongly emphasise, in the light of the Ottawa Conference, the value of our primary producers' export boards to farmers and to the Dominion as s whole. Farming Development "One returns from the conference impressed with the new importance now attached by the United Kirigdom to her own farming industry. Its encouragement is accepted as a first object of State policy. Agriculture is not being left to .take care of itself. It is being advanced by keen, competent officials and leaders both in the farming industry and in political life. More than onee in the course of this statement I have noted how directly the attitude of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom was influenced by the determination to assist the Home agricultural pro ducer. This changed outlook in the United Kingdom is of much concern to us in New Zealand. "In meeting eompetition and in finding new markets, the keynote to success for New Zealand producers will be attention to quality. At our instigation a sub-committee of tbe confereriee was set up for the purpose of examining grading standards iri relation to agricriltural products. The suggestion was that action should be taken towards the adoption' of uniform standards of grading, at least as far as minimum grades are coneerned. This is now beirig followed up by all governments interested."