THE MEAT TRUST.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 127, 29 May 1919, Page 7

THE MEAT TRUST.

rrxXNG BUTTER PRICES. I SHIPPING SPACE. MINISTERS MEET FARMERS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Numerous mattere arising- out of remits passed by the conference of the Wellington Provincial Farmers' Union were discussed with the Hons. W. D. S. Mac Donald and D. 11. Guthrie by delegates to the conference this afternoon. The question dealt with included shipping, operations of the Meat Trust, and I the fixing of prices for butter. Mr. MacDonaki said that in regard to the question of insulated shipping he did not think the Government had left anything undone. Constant representations had been made to Sir Joseph "Ward urging that more shipping should be placed at the disposal of New Zealand. Every effort had been made to influence the minds of the Imperial authorities that the position was urgent so far as the Dominion was concerned. The president. .Mr. G. L. Marshall: Is it not a fact that the Meat Trust has had influences at work to divert some of the ships that should have come here? The Minister replied that he had been advised from England that the influences of the Trust had no such effect at" all. The same question had occurred to him after the Act of last session had been passed, and it was for that reason that he had had inquiries made in England. SHIPPING NOT AFFECTED. The trust was not able to interfere with the shipping position at all. In respect to the operations of the Meat Trust, Mr. MacDonaki said an export license was not needed this year, as the companies were selling their meat to the New " Zealand Government, which obtained supplies for the Imperial Government. To him that appeared to be a weakness, 'but it was in accordance with legislation passed last year. Of course, farmers could help the Government in the matter if the} - refused to sell meat to the trust. However, the position had not been so severe during the war, as the Imperial Government had been purchasing all the supplies of meat in the Dominion, and had even had to obtain supplies from the Meat Trust itself. At the same time the general position was serious, and he was strongly of opinion that before the meat contract with the Imperial authorities ceased a strong commission should be sent to England from New Zealand to inquire into the whole question, but they would have to await the arrival of the two leaders from England before anything could be done. Personally he believed the Government would have to send agents abroad to look after the interests of the producers of the country. He hoped that Dr. Pteakes would be able to go to England t within the next few months, and go into the whole position. The conference had suggested that the names of the representatives of the Meat Trust should be published, and he could not see any reason why that should not be done. PRICES OF PRODUCE. So far a* the fixing of prices was concerned, he knew it wae a most difficult matter to deal with. It was said here yesterday that the fixing of prices and interfering with the produce of the farmers was done for political purposes. That was not a fair statement. Whatever had been done had been done to protect the produce of the farmers oi this country. The Minister -went on to explain the position regarding the prices of butter and potatoes. With regard to potatoes, he said the reason that an embargo had been placed on their export was that the price had soared from £3 15/ to £ 1", and afterwards to £20 per ton. He knew it wae unfair to exercise drastic powers in connection with the produce of the soil, but they were living under extraordinary conditions, and food prices had gone up tremendously. Therefore they could not wonder at industrial unrest. When it was found, that prices had increased to such an ex-j tent it could be understood why the | workers aeked for more wages, and why| '■stop work" and similar meetings werej held. HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER. -Speakins of hydro-electric power, the Minister said it would be a good thing if the cool stores were connected up with hydro-electric power schemes, j When the hydro-electric proposals ot: the Minister for Public Works became ' an accomplished fact, the rarmers should not rest content until every cool 6tore in the country was connected with power supply stations. Mr." Guthrie said everything possible was being done to try to relieve the shipping position. The Government had been assured that a fair apportionment j of shipping had been allocated to New 1 Zealand compared with Australia. No I doubt the Dominion had been overshadowed by the name Australasia, a proper distinction not having been made between the two countries of Australia] and New Zealand. Had-It not been for strikes and epidemics more ships would have been available for loading in New Zealand. THE EQUALISATION SCHEME. At the present time half the season's output of cheese, amounting to 447,000; crates, was in store. With regard to, butter they had nothing to fear, and the j same could be said regarding wool. Tlrey I could get plenty of space for the ehipj ment of wool. There was an idea ! abroad that the equalisation scheme in I respect to butter pre-sed Heavily on the ! exporters. The Cabinet was considering ! a suggestion to take from the Consolidated Fund the money necessary to improve the position of those, producers whose butter was kepi, for local consumption at a lower price than that fixed for export. Deilina with the question of waste lands, Mr. Guthrie said Sir Francis Bell was fully alive to the necessity for sucn lands being planted as soon as possible. He fflt sure that an soon as funds and labour were availflble Sir Francis Bell would go ahead with a vigorous policy.