PRODUCE AND PRICES.

Taihape Daily Times, 7 June 1919, Page 4

PRODUCE AND PRICES.

NEW ZEALAND’S HANDICAPWA “NEVER HAD A FAIR DEAL.” ' Some observations on the eomme:ei::l' development of New Zealand and the prices of Dominion products here and at Home were made at Auzklaud onThursday by Major W. A. Chapplc, formerly MP. for Tu-apcka, who for ssoireral years past has been a resident: of the Old Country, having occupied :1, Seat in He House of Commons as member for S*:'rlingshire for some years. Major Chapplc is at present visiting Auckland. ' New Zealand, said Major Chapple, has never had a “fair deal” in th . Home markets, and things were worsé during the war. He saw 300 Southdowrz sheep on the ‘Sussex downs six or eight months ago, and, in answer to his inquiry, the owner said he sold them to to :3. butcher for £6 each. Was New Zealanrd, he xaskdd, gettng anything approaching that for its mutton‘? In the London Times -of a recent. date wool was recorded as having been sold at,auction for 6/1 per pound. What was the New Zealand grower getting? Home prices, he thought, would come down, but the prices. that the primary -profdneers were Igettting [here would rise, because they had not been commensurate with the prices in the Wo.rld’s markets. GREAT DEMAND FOR WOOL.

k A lieading banker in London, said iMajor Chapple, had informed him on the eve of his departure for New Zealland that he had just returned front jlSou’th America, after an extensive inlquiry into South American securities land‘ prospects; and he-had found that s the number of sheep had been reduced in the Argentine from 76,000,0000 to» 34,000,000. The demand by the Central. } Powers for wool would be unprecedentled, and must be supplied. They had A : been using paper instead ‘of wool for some time past. - -- The demand for WOOI and,all New Zealand primary products, said Major Chapple, would keep up,-and prices here seemed certain to remain at their present level, or might even rise. They could hardly fall for several yearsflo come. The quality of New Zealarid wool, butter, cheese, lamb, and mutton was not excelled by that of any eoun-‘>s try in the world that sent its products to =Bl'itvaill/. _ _NEED FOR OJRGANISATION. ' : Major Chapple said that in his opinion the prices for New Zcaland’s products had never been right, and never would be right until all the primary producers combined, and through a representativc association went into the world’s markets as one seller, powerful enough to make its demands effective. He had had, he added, many in- ' tervicws with Lord Devonport, chairman of the Port of London Authority, on the facilities for fair treatment in London for New Zealand products, and he was sure that what was wanted was unity at this end——oue organisation, one policy, -one voice, and a determination that vruld notfbe baulked. New Zealand’s reputation stood so high. and her products were so well-known and appreciated, that they should find their way to the homes of British and foreign eionsumerh, with lleslser mu} ‘ fewer leakages on the way.