THE COMMANDEERED MEAT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 238, 5 October 1916, Page 7

THE COMMANDEERED MEAT.

(Special to "Star.-) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The cable published in the papers on Saturday giving the gist of an """inlerview" with Sir Thomas Mackenzie regarding commandeered meat reads so much like a reply to inquiries Mr. Msssey promised last session to institute when he visited London, that many people here are assuming that by aoiae ■occult means the High ConHniaeiontT and the Prime Minister ihave been brought together. They argue that Sir Thomas having read, as he mint iravc done, an account of what took place in Parliament concerning the matter, would not anticipate Mr. Maesey's report by confiding to an interviewer the information the Minister -worn seeking. This, however, ie not the place for epecoiation about the matter. The outstanding feature in the summary of the interview ie the admission that fh? aileg&trone made in the House of Representatives are substantially correct. "While the Board of Trade fixed the wholesale price of our meat," one paragraph runs, "Brit** and Argentine and other meats were not interfered with. The retail prices were entirely unconferolled. which, operates to our disadvantage. Retailers arc able to buy our meat at a comparatively lower rate, and can afford to give a higher price for fret! meat." It is to be hoped that the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward betveen them will be able to find a remedy for what is obviously a very unsatisfactory state of things.