ARMOUR AND CO.

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 48, 25 August 1921, Page 7

ARMOUR AND CO.

SHEEPOWNERS FAVOUR LICENSE.

There was a lengthy discussiqn at yesterday's annual meeting of the New Zealand Sheepowners and Farmers' Federation on the question of granting -'a meat export license to Armour, and Co. The subject was introduced by Mr. L. A. Rutherford, who gave a brief resume of the correspondence that had taken place regarding the matter. He went on to state that no real reason had yet been found for the refusal of the license.

Mr. F. S. Pope, Assistant-Dirpctor-General of Agriculture, attended the meeting at the invitation of the federation, for the purpose of enlightening delegates on the matter: In the absence of the Director-General, Dr. C. J. Reakes, Mr. Pope stated in answer to a question that so far as he was aware no additional reason had been found for the refusal, of the license other the original report of the Commission.

In the course of a general discussion, Mr. J. Begg l(Otago) said that it was most unjust to refuse a license to pne firm while granting it to others equally capable of using trust methods,.

Mr. G. L. Marshall (Marton) stated that so far as his knowledge went of the Wellington province, the feeling seemed to be fairly general that .the license should not be granted to Armour and Co. Ho thought that this would, apply to the North Island generally.

Mr. Sherratt (Poverty Bay) said that, speaking for Gisborne and Poverty Bay districts,.this was certainly not' the case. Practically all • the prominent sheepowners in his district were certainly in favour of the license being granted. Mr. M'Gregor (Southland) also spoke in support of the license being granted, and said that in the interests of British fair play it was only right that Armour and Co. should bo allowed to operate until something definite had .been proved against them. Mr. G. H. Andrew (Marlborough) also strongly supported the granting of the license.

Mr. Rutherford, in reply,„ -contended that the principle of free ancK-open competition for our meats here in New Zealand was at stake. Whether it Was Armour and Co. or not, overy buyer of our produce should be encouraged to the fullest extent to give the producer in the Dominion the benefit of free competition, rather than that this competition should bo taken to the United Kingdom, where the New Zealand producer could not benefit. He moved that the meeting affirm the opinion that a meat export license should be granted to Armour and Co. forthwith. f The motion was seconded by' Mr. J. Begg.

An amendment moved'by Mr. T. O. Haycock fWairarapa) * and seconded by Mr. G. L. Marshall (Marton), that the matter be held in abeyance till the return of Mr. Massey, was lost, only three delegates voting in its favour. Tho motion was then carried, thero being only three dissentients..