OUR EXPORT TRADE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2390, 20 February 1915, Page 10

OUR EXPORT TRADE

| IMPORTANT CONFERENCE j SHIPPING OF FROZEN MEAT [m the government commended A conforence of representatives of the shipping and frozen meat, companies and of the Board of Agriculture, convened by the Prime Minister for the purpose of discussing the question of insulated tonnage, and other matters, met at tho Parliamentary Buildings yesterday morning, the Primo Minister presiding. The conference also discussed the communication from the Imperial authorities asking tho Now Zealand Government to take control of the whole of the frozen meat output of the Dominion on its belialf which' might ba available for expert. The following were also present, representing the companies and interests named: —Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company, Mr. H. G. Stringer; Borthwick aud Sons (Australasia), Limited, Mr. C. S. Harper; Canterbury Frozen Meat and Dairy Produce Export Company, Limited, Messrs. N. L. Macbeth and J. Cfrigg; Christchuroh Meat Ltd., Messrs. W. Murray and H. A. Knight; Gear Meat Preserving and Freezing Co., Ltd., Messrs. W. H. Milliard and W. Tripe; Gisborne Sheep-farmers' Frozen Meat, Co., Ltd., Mr. C. A. Do Latour; National Mortgage and Agency Co., for the Longburn Freezing Co., Messrs, Ritchie and H'. G. Warren; Nelson Freezing Co., Ltd., Mr. Mitchell; North British and Hawks's Bay Freezing Co., Ltd., Mr. Kinross White; Patea Co-operative Freezing Co., Ltd., Mr. W. D. Powdrell; Southland Frozen Meat and Produce Export Co., Ltd., Mr. J. M'Queen; Tokomaru Sheepfarmers' Freezing Co., Mr. H. G. Warren; Wanganui Meat Freezing Co., Ltd., Mr. E. A. Campbell; J. G. Ward and Co. (Ocean Beach), Mr. J. : M'Queen; Wellington Farmers' Meat Co., Ltd., Mr. J. C. Cooper; Wellington Meat Export Co., Ltd., Mr. W. G. Foster ; Whangarei Freezing Co., Sir. A. Bevins. Shipping Companies—C. and D. Line, Mr. Sandtmann; N.Z.S.S. Co., Meears. 'A. E. G. Rhodes,. A. W. Bennett, and Bullock; N.Z. and South African, Mr. W. Wallis; Shaw, Savill, and Albion, Messrs. J. Findlay and Pearce, and W." D. Stewart. Board of Agriculture—Sir James Wilson, Mr. J. D. Hall, and Mr. J. Grigg. , In addition, Mr. R. Triggs, Assistant Public Service Commissioner, Dr. C. J. Reakes, Director of the Live Stock and Meat Division of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. Malcolm Fraser, Government Statistician, were present.

Supply of Ships. The Prime Minister, in opening the couferejico, briefly outlined the steps taken by the Government to. ensiire a regular service in connection with the export of our frozen meat and dairy produce. The' conference exhaustively discussed the question,; and the following resolution, was carried ■ "That in view, of the_ scarcity.■ of - insulated shipping, this meeting asks for an assurance from ' the shipping companies trading to New Zealand to load [ steamers ; direct from Great Britain to New Zealand, and they will do all in their power to bring out all tho tonnage possible, and as soon as possible to load meat, and dairy- ' produce, from New Zealand ports. Further, that the shipping conipanies confer with the Government and freezing companies in regard to the manuer and mode of doing ; this without prejudice to existing contracts." ,

Army Requirements. The Prime Minister then brought up tlio .question of the. request received by cable from the Secretary of State for the Colonies that the whole of the Dominion's supply of refrigerated: meat available for export during the, war be secured for the Imperial Government for the use of the Allied armies; and in order to prevent any excessive advance in price in the United Kingdom of existing supplies, which may not be required tor the armies of tue Allies in the field. He (the Prime Minister) informed the conference that the'.Government has decided to comply with the request of the Imperial authorities; After fall consideration of the question the following resolution was adopted:— "That this conference wishes to inform the Imperial Government, through the Prime Minister, that they 'are prepared • to co-ope Tat© ;i with the Dominion Government,in every way with regard to the proposal that' the whole of the cieat : available for export should i'e placed at the disposal of the Imperial Government. Further, that the conference set up a committee to assist the Government in arranging the details necessary for the successful working of .the 6chemo." , It was also lesolved tliat a committee, consisting, of ! representatives of all freezing companies, and of the R ard of Agriculture, , be formed in order to confer with tho Government on the matter, the Prime Minister'undertaking' to formulate a scheme for submission to tho committee at.an early date. Vote of Thanks, Mr. Millward (Geat Meat Company) said he would like to ask the conference before passing from the question of freight to carry a resolution thanking the Prime Minister for what he bad done in connection with that aspect of the frozen meat, business. He referred to the. position in . connectionwith this matter brought about by the war. Mr. Massey had worked hard and long over it, and had got very little thanks for the valuable work' he had done. He therefore moved that a hearty vote of, thanks be passed to him as an expression of appreciation of his efforts, because they knew _' 'that what had been done had been in the interests of the industries of the Dominion. . ' Mr. Powdrell (Patea Freezing Company) seconded the motion. Mr. H. G. Warren (Nelson Brothers, Limited) supported the motion, and said that Mr. Massey and the Government had been brought into this matter, although they were not really responsible in any ivay; but they had taken it up and their efforts had met with considerable success, and he was sure that the thanks of the whole community were due to Mr. Massey and tho Government for the way in which tho subject had been handled. Tho motion was carried by acclamation.

The Prime Minister, in acknowledging the vote of thanks,_ said that the Government felt it tlieir duty to do something in this matter, which was one of national importanco, bccanse if anything went wrong with our exports, there was bound to be trouble lator on. ' Thoy had tried to do what was right towards the 'producers, and their representatives, tlie freezing oompanios. Ho added his appreciation of the vahiablo assistance rendered by Mr. Triggs, ono of the Public Service Commissioners. It was not part of his duty to tako up a matter such as this, but Mr. Triggs, offered his services voluntarily. Mr. Triggs eiimo forward and offered to assist ,in connection with the wheat troublo and tlie shipping business, and he had worked early and late in connection with the matter. Ho (Mr. Massey) appreciated his vote of thanks, but a great deal of the credit was due to Mr. Triggs.