BRITISH PRICE FOR MEAT

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22907, 2 January 1940, Page 6

BRITISH PRICE FOR MEAT

RETURN TO FARMER .IN NEW ZEALAND MR NASH REPLIES TO MR POLSON. PROCEDURE EXPLAINED (PBESB ASSOCIATION TZLEGBAM.) WELLINGTON, January 1. Complaints by Mr W. J. Poison, M.P., about the difference between the price paid for New Zealand meat by the Imperial Government and the return to" farmers here were replied to at the week-end by the Minister for Marketing (the Hon. W. Nash) speaking at Stratford. Mr Poison quoted his own experience, and said he had complained to the chairman of the Meat Board that the price received for lambs by farmers was unreasonable, and the charges deducted by the freezing companies exorbitant, and far beyond the necessities of the case. For this he blamed the Minister for Marketing.

Mr Nash said his answer was that he had nothing to do with the fixing of freezing and allied charges. They were arranged by the Meat Board in consultation with the freezing companies; but that the Government had reserved the right to audit the books of freezing companies,, and satisfy itself as to the basis of the charges made. "If Mr Poison would ascertain the facts before making his statements to the press," said Mr Nash, "he would not so often be astray. Arrangements in connexion with the purchase of the stock from farmers were made by the Meat Board and freezing companies. My work on behalf of the Government was confined to buying the meat from the freezing companies, from operators, or from farmers who exercise the right to send in stock on their own account. If Mr Poison-had consulted the Meat Board with regard to the procedure, and had aske*d the opinion of members of the board, he would have discovered that, at the conclusion of their discussions with the freezing companies on the procedure, at which I was not present, they came specially to thank me for allowing them in the main to determine the rules governing the relations of farmers and freezing companies, and the opinion of members of the Meat Board was that competition between the freezing companies would ensure to the farmers a maximum return for their stock. The Government's policy is in accord with the expressed will of-the farmers, which is not to take advantage of the war situation; but to ensure that Great Britain and the people of the Dominion shall obtain all the commodities, produced in the Dominion at reasonable prices. If any section is taking advantage of the position, it is doing direct opi»Dsition to the policy of the Government, which will co-operate in every way with producers' organisations to prevent such advantages being taken. This is apparently not what Mr Poison desires. •■* He apparently desires to create .discontent witbT'the Government, even although the particular issue he raises is in no' way the responsibility of the Government."