MEAT POOL BOARD

Evening Star, Issue 17927, 24 March 1922, Page 2

MEAT POOL BOARD

METHOD OF APPOINTMENT.

Reference to the Meat Pool Board was made 'by Mr W. J. Poison (chairman) at a meeting of blue Dominion Executive of Die New Zealand Farmers’ Union at Wellington yesterday. Tho Meat Export Control 'Board, ho said, had been appointed and had begun its labors since tho hist meeting of the executive, and bo was sure they all wished it a complete and triumphant success. A groat responsibility was thrown on the board _by tho Act. It could compel all meat in Now Zealand to bo compulsorily pooled or not, just as it liked. Ho know that many producers wore dissatisfied, feeling that too great a responsibility was thrown on tho board. Many producers thought the Act should not have left the matter in doubt; but tho board had power, and no doubt it would use it as soon as it was ready. They must have patience, knowing that there was much preliminary work to overcome. At tho same time he realised that nothing bub compulsion would do. Mr W, G, Load ley (Ashburton) called attention to a Trees message stating that following on an expressed desire of the moat producers that tho export levy on meat -should be borne by them, at Addington the previous day the fat stock auctioneers announced that nil bids for fat stock for export would be subject to a deduction of tho tax, in accordance with the notices from exporters, .and'that, the sale had proceeded on those lines. That, commented Mr Lead ley, was allowing them to get tho thin end of the wedge in. Tho result would be that the levy would fall upon the farmers. Ho hold that the shippers should pay. Mr G. L. Marshall (Marlon) remarked that what had been done was pure camouflage, in order to excite fooling against tho moat pool; but there, was no question that whatever was done tho farmer would have to pay the levy every time. Mr Leadley said that the amount of the levy per carcass was insignificant. It was the principle that was objected to.

Mr R. D. Duxfield (Horotiu) stated that the freezing companies were objecting to pay tho back levy, but not to paying it for tho future. The Chairman said that tho matter was very simple. The exporter would have to pay on export. Ho was deducting tho penny from the farmer to make sure of it. Mr C. Smith (Wanganui) expressed the opinion that the penny should not be paid at tho saleyard, because lamb, for instance, might be sold again and agoin before it was exported. Ho thought that the levy should bo paid on export. Air L eadley stated that the meat pool was not yet in operation. The board was not yet handling any meat, but export buyers were already demanding this penny. A common-sense thing, he contended, was for the man whoso moat was being dealt with to bo charged with tho penny.

.Mr Duxfiold held that tho Meat Control Board, including two Government representatives, a stock and station, agent representative, and with on© gentleman (.Mr John Grigg) on it who had expressed himself as absolutely hostile to tho pool, was not properly representative of tho producers. They had been told that tho producers would be given a say in tho election of tho board, but tho matter had' been rushed on them. The feeling in Auckland was that the board had practically been nominated by the Government, and they had not the confidence in the board that they would have had it it had been elected by a producers’ vote on the lines suggested. The Government had a controlling influence on the board, although Mr Massey load laid it down that there would bo no doubt about it that the producers would have control. Tho farmers in his district had understood that this was only to bo a temporary beard 1 , and that a permanent board was to be elected as soon as possible.

Tho Chairman : There is to be an election.

Captain Oolbeck (Auckland): Yes, in two years’ time ; but two years is far too long for a board to bo in existence that we know nothing about. Mr J. 11. Joll (Hastings) contended that the pool should be made compulsory. He admitted that the pool had already done wonders by raising values; but did they think that he wats going to put his meat through tlie.,pool when he know that other people had the privilege of doing otherwise? Ho urged that the executive should take a strong stand for compulsion.

Mr G. L. Marshall (Morton) thought that the constitution of the board was very satisfactory., It. was composed of good, lovol-headccl men, though perhaps not elected ip the best way. Tho board had not started operations yet. They should give it time to show what it was going to do—a chance to prove itself. Mr Duxficld moved a resolution to the effect Unit the executive took exception to the manner in which tho board had been set up, and held tiro opinion that producers should have full representation on t.lio board. The Chairman urged that it would be very inadvisable to pass such a resolution now, even if they agreed with it. It would not bo giving the board a fair deal. Mr DuxfloH said ho was not objecting to the personnel of the hoard, but to tho way in which the appointments had been made. They had been given to understand that the board was to be elected by a vote of the producers, and that this board was to be sot up only for a short timo—(“Hear, hear”) —and that then tho producers would elect a permanent board, each district voting according to the number of sheep it had.

Mr Leadley said that a feeling existed down south that- an election had been ■hastened, and that it was a Massey, board —a Government board. They had been under the impression that this was to bo only a temporary board, that the producers were to elect a permanent board; but that, of course, bad not been done. Mi’ W. B. Mathcson’ (Eketahuna) agreed with the chairman' that they should give tho board time, and not go hack now to the method of appointment. Mr Joll said he understood that everybody was satisfied, with the personnel of the board, and that its members were men in whom they had confidence. Ho suggested that they should therefore waive tho question of the method of tbair appointment, and leave the matter as it stood. This closed tho discussion.