MEAT FOR THE TROOPS

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15337, 22 July 1915, Page 3

MEAT FOR THE TROOPS

IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT'S PURCHASES.

COMPLATXTS BY THE FARMERS.

Tho • Canterbury . Executive of the Farmers' Union, at its meeting yesterdny, received a letter from tne Prime ■Minister, who. wrote stating that the scheme for the supply of frozen meat to the Imperial Government did not provide for interest being payable on meat required to remain" in store oWr one month. - Tho unfortunate shortage of insulated tonnage was, of course, responsible for the congestion in the freezing worke, but the supply of ton-, nage during the next three months would be increased. Mr G. W. teadley said the Government should have bought the meat when it Was killed, and paid for on the hooks. The Government was actually holding up £2,000,000 of the farmers' money, and were not paying interest. I hat was not fair to the grower. Mr F. G. Horrell said the Government had done its best, and the Union should not complain now. Mr It. Evaus said it was not correct to say that farmers were getting higher prices than ever before. Mr Horrell: I have nevor before obtained 7d per lb all round. Mr Evans: We have had it before hand, at the end of the season. Mr Horrell: But it started earlier this year. Mr Leadley: Mr Evans is quite right; there is an impression abroad that we are getting big prices. Mr Horrell: I don't want farmers to appear dissatisfied at euch a time as this. ■ Mr G. Sheaft: Wβ want the public to know the facts. Mr G. Gardner (chairman) said that when it was feared there would be a shortage of ships. Mr Massey had treated the warning as party politics, and had ignored it. The matter was left in the hands or tho Union .delegates 'to the Dominion Conference in Wellington to interview the Prime Minister on the matter. Mr W. T Li|| suggested that stock producers should be prepared to state ' ou what tonus they would supply Jambs ] and shcop next year, and what freezing space they would require. The men!; prodi.cing the shoen should have *!io < first claim on tho freezing companies 1 I his year tho men who grew the shcop i got little ,and in-some ."cases no profit, ' while other pxirtios were getting the hie / profit i of 9s and 10s po'r head. ]]~ { movrd that a iccommcndation be i-.iv- I wardo'J to the Dominion Conference j providing that the pro<lticers should t jiotify thrir frop/.iny (.'ornpanirs that V (hoy would have then- own space for * next .season. 1 The motion was carried. F Mr Wold enquired how the farmers £ would be petting on if tho freezing y companies told them they would only v have space for shippers, r The chairman so id that was Mr Lill's 1 affair. S