SPECIAL TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

Evening Star, Issue 17542, 23 December 1920, Page 10

SPECIAL TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

FARMERS’ UNION PROJECT. STORAGE MONOPOLIES. A special meeting of the executive of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was, held yesterday to consider the question of a” trade representative at Home to push the interests of the Dominion’s producers. Mr John Clarke suggested that some of them seemed to be going rather fast. He considered the first aspect of the question to be considered was that of finance, and he wanted to know what the Government were prepared to do. The expense would be £IO,OOO a year or more, as the office should be a department quite apart from that of the High Commissioner. The Farmers’ Union could not finance the undertaking. At present it could scarcely finance its own business in the Dominion. The Chairman (MV J. A. Macpherson) said the question had been fully discussed at the Dominion Conference, and it' was the unanimous opinion that there was an absolute necessity for such an appointment—a fully-qualified man. There had been a very long and arduous debate, one section of the producers considering that there should be an export tax’to cover the cost, and another deeming a reversion to the old sheep tax suitable, while botli propositions were repugnant to the majority. He had always looked upon the appointment as one that should be financed by the Government, as the office was one not merely to the benefit of the producer, but to the benefit of the Dominion. Nothing was so vital as the proper marketing of its produce, and such an appointment should be a charge upon the Consolidated Fund. The question of finance, therefore, should be one for the Government, and he understood that the Government were quite prepared to finance it. He considered that 'it would not be sufficient to have a man conversant with the New Zealand markets ; they must also have a man—another man—thoroughly conversant with the markets at Horae. They could not expect one man to have in himself that full knowledge_ of both markets, and two should be appointed, to work in harmony with one another. He thought it would be well for the executive to endorse the recommendation of the Dominion Conference, and that the office—whoever was appointed—should be a charge upon the Government. He opposed the idea of the representative being connected with the High Commissioner’s Office. Mr J. Christie moved— That this executive affirms the desirability of having a direct trade representative, with headquarters in London, to look after the business of the producers of the Dominion in the world's markets. Tire Chairman said they were more or less en the hands of big exploiting companies, and it was their intention to break away from them. The storage capacity at Home had been largely bought up" by monopolies; but he understood that there were a number of largo and competent firms able and willing to do the business with greater advantage to the producers of the Dominion than was the case now. He could assure farmers that the New Zealand Government were most sympathetic. , Mr Leary seconded Mr Christie’s motiop, which, after further discussion, was carried. The Chairman explained that the idea arrived at at the Dominion Conference was that the Government should consult ■with a committee of the Farmers’ Union with regard to the appointment and all the machinery necessary in connection with it. _ He did not think anything was to be gained by discussing purely machinery proposals at the present stage. Ho would suggest that it be recommended that the Government consult with a committee as suggested, to consider not only the appointment, but everything appertaining to it. He thought it would be to the general advantage that the business and political interests should be entirely dissociated. Mr Love was emphatically of opinion that the producers should control the representative. _ The addition to the motion was carried as follows That the Government be asked to invite a representative committee from the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to confer with it in regard to the appointment and the conditions thereof. ( The principle was also affirmed that the Government should find the money.