The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1921. MARKETING PRODUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1921. MARKETING PRODUCE.

At the opening of the new dairy factory at Bell Block last week, the question of marketing the Dominion’s produce was stressed by several of the speakers. Though no new light was shed on this important subject, which has been almost worn threadbare by the constant reiteration of what is necessary to be done, yet there is always the hope that persistency will ultimately bear fruit in the shape of effective organisation, without which the desired end eannot be reached. In the past there has been far too much leaning on the Government, instead of the producers regarding the marketing of their goods as being of equal, if not greater, importance than the process of manufacture. For that reason Mr. F. G. Greville, one of the keenest of the dairying enthusiasts, did good service when, in the course of his remarks at the function in question, he emphasised dairy produce was no good to the farmers until it was marketed. The same remark applies to all produce, for no matter how persistent the producers may be in thei* efforts to ensure their output being of the highest quality, unless they display a corresponding determination to ensure their goods being rightly marketed, they will not receive the highest values and create an ever-increasing demand. It has been proved up to the hilt that mere excellence of quality does not suffice to capture public favor; instead it offers an opportunity to blenders to tone up inferior articles and make good profits at the expense of the New Zealand producers. Cheese cannot be manipulated in this way: it stands or falls on its merits, and it is satisfactory to note the statement made by Mr. Greville that tl’e Bell Block factory supplied the best cheese ■ made in Australasia. Hence the good prices our cheese commands, for there are plenty of consumers in the Homeland who, if they can secure the quality they desire, give little or no heed to the price asked. By this time it is a well known and conclusively proved fact that the only way in which those who have goods to sell of outstanding merit, and who have no fear as to the quality being of the best, is by means of an educative campaign in the shape of bold advertising and convincing propaganda. That campaign, however, must be supported by having the goods where they are within the reach of the purchasers. It is no use impressing on the consumers by all the resources of publicity that they should buy New Zealand butter because of its excellence unless there are shops and stores where the butter is sold by honest and reliable traders who will assist in the advertising campaign by proclaiming that they are selling the genuine produce of the Dominion. At present, not even the officials of the High Commissioner’s office can tell inquirers where they can obtain New Zealand butter. How can it be expected that the people of the Motherland will credit that the Dominion has the highest quality goods for sale in Britain when no one knows wnere they can be purchased? What can those people think of New Zealanders as business men? A tew thousands spent in Organisation advertising and propaganda would prove a handsome investment, especially if backed up by enterprising methods that would make the Dominion as well and favorably known as Denmark, France and Canada, or even Irelad.