ARMY MEAT CONTRACTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 26, 31 January 1902, Page 2

ARMY MEAT CONTRACTS.

DISCUSSED BY THE AUCKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

The question of the Premier's action in connection with the army meat contracts was considered at a meeting of the Council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon. The Chairman (Mr. Hugh Campbell) said some of the Premier's remarks seemed to sug-gest the readiness of the colonies to adopt a policy of reciprocity, because if preference were to be given to colonial meats for army contracts, why Ishould not the colcmies in turn give preference to the articles manufactured in Great Britain. That, however, appeared rather to be the evolution of the idea, but their Chamber might not be prepared to go to that extent, but it was only right it should support the Premier in his attempt to secure a fair field for colonial produce. He would, therefore, move, "That this Council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce thanks.the Right Hon. the Premier for his efforts-to secure for the colony a share in the supply of meat to the army in South Africa, and hopeiS' that he will be successful in securing1 such conditions of. contracting1 as will result in a large export from the colony for arpry consumption." Mr. Campbell (said that resolution did not commit the Chamber to all the Premier had said and. done, but supported him in" his action in this particular matter.

Mr. George Fowlds, M.H.R., in seconding the motion, said it was correct in its terms, and did not commit the Council to anything hut the bare fact that they were anxious to support the Premier in his endeavours to secure trade for the colony. He did not believe for one moment in a preferential tariff within the EmpirThe Empire would go dOwn if the;departed from the open door policy.

Mr. Graves Aickin said it was not a mere matter of. reciprocity. There Vs'hould be a feeling" "of federation throughout the Empire, that the colonies should be treated as part of the Empire. They had not had a fair share hitherto of the trade in South African army supplies. Mr. J. Jleed supported Hie resolution, and quite agreed that the other question of preferential tariff might stand over for the present. As a matter of fact, there was nothing1 New Zealand Bent to England that vfais taxed now; therefore/there could not be any reciprocity in that respect. Mr. Carl Seegner said tho question of preferential tariff had nothing- to do with tliis matter of meat contracts. Tie cordially supported the motion, but preferential tariff was a different matter altogether. The first thing- was to see that all statistics were absolutely correct, so that they really knew where they go-£ their goods from and where their produce went to. The Chairman pointed out, that it required a big1 establishment to enable anyone in the colony to contract for supplying- the army. All they could ask was that tenders should state ;i separate price for Britishgrown meat and foreign meat, and if the result were favourable for the British-grown, then it should be supplied. The motion was then adopted.