DOMINION PRODUCE OUTLOOK.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1920, Page 4

DOMINION PRODUCE OUTLOOK.

New Zealand's late High Commissioner (Sir Thomas Mackenzie) lost no time after returning to the Dominion in giving a review of the outlook for our produce on the overseas markets. No one is better qualified to give reliable information and advice on this matter than Sir Thomas, for in addition to his long official experience in Britain, he also visit/d America and made himself familiar with produce conditions there. With regard to wool, he recognises the difficulty of the position owing to the heavy accumulations in England, and the unwise policy of the controller in withholding wool from the market except at high prices for limited quantities, but lie points to the fact that during the war the world's flocks declined by between sixty and seventy millions, so tlipt he feels justified in not taking a pessimistic view of the situation, The question of a Government guarantee behind advances made by the banks, was one upon which he was pointedly noncommittal, as an important factor was what course the Argentine and South Africa were likely to pursue in placing their wool on the market, though he mentioned that as a general principle it was sound policy for the prices of produce to meet the market. On the subject of the outlook for meat, Sir. Thos. Mackenzie had to admit that the condition of New Zealand mutton that was being placed on the market whan he left was not satisfactory, and for this lie blamed the controller for being obsessed by the bogey of a meat famine arising in the late years of the war, consequently the meat was held too long, the appearance of, the cut carcases was bad owing to prolonged storage, and the reputation of tlie Dominion's meat suffered in view of the keen competition by other meat-producing countries. His remarks on the mistaken policy of sending lamb to America, and the advisability of making it a condition that if the Americans took our lamb they should also take a proportion of our mutton, deserve attention, as the people in Englad wanted our lamb and were prepared to pay for it, being disappointed at not obtaining it, and being compelled to put up with mutton while America got the lamb. His advice as to effectively advertising New Zealand mutton ij America is also worthy of consideration The dairy produce output appeared to Sir Thomas as good, and undoubtedly that is a thoroughly justified view, though he wisely drew attention to the fact that the price of all commodities depended on the ability of the consumers to find the money therefor. On the whole the outlook for our produce is fairly satisfactory, though prices in the future may not be as favorable as during the war.