CO-OPERATIVE POOL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 12, 14 July 1939, Page 10

CO-OPERATIVE POOL

MEAT MARKET

SURPLUS OLD EWES

The following remit was carried at the annual conference of the New Zea« land Farmers' Union today:—

That this conference endorses a proposal to levy the necessary fraction of a penny per pound to form a co-operative meat pool. This conference urges the evolution by the Meat Board of a practicable and equitable scheme for the removal of surplus old ewes from the market, such scheme to be put into operation at the beginning of the next export season. Mr. L. T. Daniell (Wairarapa) said that it was essential that .they should get back to a fair price for their ewes, which were the bases of.the sheep industry. He did not. suggest that they could get back to 18s, but they should aim at getting back to 14s. Under the scheme he was proposing, sheep farmers would receive a higher return, and this would come very largely from those who had received higher wages in recent years. Mr. R. Sievers (Makara) seconded the motion. It was essential that some' such scheme should be adopted before the next export season. If it were not adopted, the sheep farmers would be left to carry the whole burden once again, and they could not possibly sup* port the Farmers' Union. Mr. L. Hammond (Marton) said that a blanket levy was needed, to help any section of the farming community that was likely to be hurt by restrictions or by any other manner. The sheep farmers were getting anxious and desired something done. Mr. H. Morrison (Wairarapa) said the scheme would have the effect of raising the price on the local market and would bring about £350,000 a year to the sheep farmers. The following remits were . also carried: — "That the Farmers' Union investigate the meat industry with a view to forming a corporation of producers similar to that operating in the Argentine." "That in view of the British Government's restrictions on meat imports and the difficulties which will probably arise next season in marketing our ewe mutton, this conference requests the Dominion' executive to make representations to the Meat Board with a view to finding further markets, particularly in those European countries which are in need of our primary produce, and are anxious to extend their trade."