PROPOSED MEAT POOL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 3, 5 January 1922, Page 6

PROPOSED MEAT POOL.

MENACE OF TRUSTS.

A FLANK ATTACK. f WARNING BY MINISTER. ' (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A statement was made to-<lay by the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. W. Xoswortby, in regard to the meat pool. "Communications have reached mc from farmeTs in various districts which indicate that a risk exists of misapprehensions arising as a result of the over--7-ea.lous efforts of those associated with the interests which have thought fit to oppose the meat pool proposal*," he said. , It is necessary once more to make clear * to the producers that these proposals are made wholly and solely in their interests, that as pointed out by the Prime Minister the pool will be a pro dueers' pool, controlled by thera and managed on their behalf by the best business men obtainable. 'There was never a time in the his- • tory of the Dominion when so great a ' necessity existed for all producers to I come together and act with one mind , and with one object in safeguarding their own interests against the encroachment of the trusts, whose aim is to secure control, directly or indirectly, of the meat which is produced through the labour and enterprise of our farmers. 'The pool proposals, providing a? they do one central producers' controlling body and onKscller only for Xew Zealand meat, would afford a greater measure of protection than anything else. It is particularly noticeable that the only criticism which so far has come to light 13 of a destructive nature, that no one has been able to put forward any suggestions for improvement or for any alternative scheme which will afford protection to the producer?" interests which the present-day position demand-. "Petitions arc being circulated for signature by farmers asking for the right to sell their stock how and when they please. The bearing of the proposals upon the sale o» stock on the hoof by farmers is being fully considered. Pending elaboration of all working details farmer* would be well advised not to sign the petitions, seeing that they may be described as attempts at flank attacks upon the stronghold of the producers' interests, which the pool , is intended to establish. "The Government is desirous of having the whole question fully and frankly discussed, with full consideration for I every aspeot, but the one definite principle of safeguarding the producers of I j the Dominion asrainst the ag2Te«sion of . powerful outside organisations must I never be lost sight of or allowed to be ! clouded by side issues. There should be no misapprehension of the position. The producers roust either come together fcr their own protection or place themselves, so far as the export meat trade is ron- ! cerned. at the mercy of outside trusts, j The matter is in their hands. With a united body of producers behind if. the Government will be in a position to act strongly and decisively." j APPROVAL BY FARMERS. j The meeting of North Canterbury farmers which discussed the meat pool proposals yesterday carried a motion expressing ihe opinion that the time had arrived when a forward movement should be made to conserve the interests of producers, and heartily approving of anything which might be dor." in connection with the meat pool, which would be in the interests of the producers. The proposed meat pool was approved at a meeting of farmers at Whnkatane I yesterday, called by ihe Agricultural l an.l Pastoral Association. The Hon. .1. | B. Gow was appointed delegate to attend the conference in Wellington. Three hundred farmers representing every part of the district met in Masterton yesterday and passed a resolution in support of the pool. A largely attended meeting at Wairoa IHawke's Bay). representing sheep farmers, stock firms, and the meat company, unanimously favoured an improvement on the present sysitem of handling New Zealand meat.

j SUPPORT AT WINTON.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.* IXVERCARGILL. this day. i A larjjo and representative meeting of producers was held at Winton la>t night jto discuss the propo-ed meat pool. Mr. j .1. R. Hamilton, M.P.. said that if they I were content to wait for the operation !of na.tura! laws many would be in the i bankruptcy court. Vested interests ha/ ] a great opportunity lo assi.-t the coun--1 try. but they were not playing the game by destructive criticism. ! Mr. Morgan supported scheme, i and recommended its immediate adopj tion. This was carried unanimously j amidst loud applause. I ! DCX—DrX. this day. A meeting of Palmerston farmers re the meat pool congratulated Mr. Massey on making some attempt to improve matters. A resolution that the pool be made optional was not pres.-cd. a free hand being left to Mr. A. S. Cambridge. who was appointed delegate to the conference.

I | FORTHCOMING CONFERENCE.

1 BOCAE DELEGATES APPOINTED. ! Approval of the prinrip'e of the meat pool proposals was unanimously expressed yesterday by a meeting of representative producers, in the board room of the local branch of the Farmers' Union. I Mr. R. D. Duxfield. presided over an I i attendance of fourteen, including Mr. I F. F. Hockly, M.P. for Rotorua, and | Mr. R. V. Bollard, M.l\ for Raglan. Messrs. K. D. McLennan. S. Hodge, and | j A. D. Stanley, president, vice-president j and secretary of the A. and P. Associa- I j tion, represented that body. The meet- I ing was called in response to a telegram from the Minister of Agriculture, reI questing the union to appoint two dele- | gates to the producers' conference, to be held at Wellington on January 10 to discuss the proposed meat pool. I Mr. Hockly said that the scheme, which was quite the most, important one ever made in the producers' interests, would be managed entirely by the producers, in whose hands would lie success or failure, The Government would assist financially if necessary, but ' the producersthemselves would organise , the export trade. Mr. Hockly quoted j Mr. A. Buchanan, president of the Mana- ! watu Sub-provincial Executive of the , Union, who had urged that there was 1 room for the reduction of freezing and j shipping charges to about 1.75 d per lb , for wether nratton and 2d for lamb.

Also, it was necessary to secure markets • outside of London, such as Manchester, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow and Copenhagen. District pools might be worked and finances arranged in much t:ie same way that dairy companies now financed,, their cheese and butter industries. The cost of management might be provided for by the suggested levy of Id per head on cattle and 1/ per hundred on sheep, with a minimum charge of. say, 10/ per producer. Such a levy would bring in some £25,000 per annum, and might be modified to entitle each contributor to a vote and scat at ! branch meetings of the Farmers' Union. Mr. Bollard said the question was whether New Zealand producers were going to handle their own products or ' i let a trust do it. He said that Armour's 1 j were "moving Heaven and earth" _to - secure the primary products of Xew • j Zealand, arid by the pool scheme the , I producers could defeat the trust. The , ! Rrime Minister had received an assurance from the British Producers' Asso- '. j ciation that they would co-operate in , 'fighting the trusts. Mr. A. A. Ross, ex-president of the J Farmers' Union, said that, whether the I farmers liked it or not there would be I I unified control, but the question they ! had to decide was whether it should be in .their hands or under the control of a ! meat trust. The idea of a compulsory pool by legislation was excellent and , deserved every support. Mr. F. Colbec's. Dominion vioe-presi- '. i dent and member of the executive of the ' union, warned the producers about the 'operations of the trust. Under the new , | scheme farmers would get more for their , | meat than the trust would pay. He adi vocated co-operating with Queensland. . | South Africa, or rather beef producing . j countries, to supply beef to enable ' British butchers to obtain all their orders without patronising the vested interests. As union delegates to the forthcoming conference the meeting appointed Mr. Ross and Mr. C. Munrn. a member jof the executive. The president of the !A. and P. Association said his associaI tion would also appoint delegate;.