THE MEAT TRADE

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 110, 5 November 1915, Page 2

THE MEAT TRADE

MR. MASSEY AND THE FARMERS

IMPERIAL ARRANGEMENT

EXPLAINED.

(tr ODE SPECIAL REPORTER.)

PALMERSTON N., Thursday. Shortly after his arrival on the Showgrounds to-day the Prime Minister granted an interview to a deputation which >vas appointed last evening by the meeting of persons interested in the meat trade, and which had discussed various aspects of the transactions in regard to New Zealand meat commandeered by the Imperial authorities Messrs. 0. Hawken IPatea) and Lysnar (Gisborne) were the chief speakers. Mr. Hawken read the resolution which was passed at the meeting, which was as follows: "That, in the opinion of this meeting, it :s necessary tnat the whole question of the commandeering of our meat and sSippiag oe carefully and impartially investigated by tie authorities, and that a committee should be set up to assist and go into the whole matter."

The tenor of Mr. Hawken's remarks was tnat if there was commandeerincr of meat there should be restriction of profit on the part of the retailers, and that no one interested in the trade as shippers | mea ™ W be allowed t« control its sale. Ihe meat was commandeered to be used for the British Army and so that the public of Britain could get cheap meat; and now they understood the British Government was making a large profit out of it. The owners of this big trade were concerned as to its future lhey feared,_ for instance, the operations ot the American Meat Trust, which they "h f °fc WaS SUpplyinS the armies at

The Premier interjected that the trust" was not supplying the British Army. Mr. Lysnar said that regulations had been made to control the transactions up to the time the meat reached the retailers at Home. What they asked was. that there should be a limitation upon the price at which the retailers were to sell-allow, say, Id or 2d a pound to the retailers. It was up to this country to see that the British public were not overcharged. There was also the question of meat trusts at Home operating the retail meat market and closing up many small shops. This was actually being done. They were willinto have the meat commandeered, but the S nX- b pr le should have * »chea^

In replying the Premier went at length into the whole question of the commtnfmH ngw l he m^^ the way the matter had been-managed and was now being run He asked: Were the farmers satisfied with the prices they were getting ?

Mr. Lysnarsaid they were if the meat was for Impend purposes, but not if it was for the benefit of British retailers.

Mr. Massey then read from communications of the High Commissioner, which he had a ready quoted at length in Parliament before the session closed, and showed that there was the most careiul investigation by the British Board of Trade right up to the time the meat reached the public—that portion of it which did not go to the ArmyMid that everything was above board. Jie had been continuously told by farmers that the arrangement was a most excellent one. He concluded that.he had been afraid that the present arrangement would be discarded by the Home authorities, and that they would be told they did not intend to continue as at present. The farmers might say they could go on as they were before the arrangement^ that this could not be done because there would arise a shortage of ships. The ships would emerge from the commandeering arrangement and would go_ where they could get the best freight prices. He assured the farmers that their business was. being conducted in the best possible way, and everything was above board and open. The future prospects were even better, because the' cool stores were now clearer and there was ample provision in this respect. Mr. Massey was heartily thanked for his explanation of the position.