MEAT POOL

Gisborne Times, Volume LV, Issue 6274, 30 December 1921, Page 5

MEAT POOL

NATIONAL SCHEME OPPOSED BY G.S.F.M. DIRECTORS.

FAILURE OF GOVERNMENT PLAN PREDICTED.

The proposed national meat pool was considered yesterday by the directors of the Gisborne Sheepfarmors’ E.M. and M. Co., and a resolution was passed expressing disagreement with the project, it being considered that the scheme was not in the interests of the producers, and unlikely to succeed. After considering the Government reports for a national scheme, the following resolution was carried unanimously :

1. That the experiment is not justified, and will not succeed, and its failure must react upon the producers, who will inevitably be called upon to foot the bill. 2. That Government intervention, without practical experience, is always unfortunate. 3. That the charges to be saved will not in practice be so saved. Such saving has not been proved, and is in- ' capable of proof. 4. That all the objections to the present system of private dealing and shipping, entailing damage and mishandling, and difficulty in freight conditions, can be got over if the shipping companies, in terms of the existing contracts, interchange freight space at the outlying ports, and if individual companies, with the friendly co-operation of the banks and mercantile houses, pdol minor lots.

5. That to displace all existing arrangements which have been standardised over many years, is stire to be adverse, to the interests of the producers.

6. That all realisation of meat in Great Britain is in the hands of established agencies, whose assistance, where not enlisted, will be lost and their energies directed to channels adverse .to New Zealand producers. 7. That controlled meat, applied only to New Zealand, while the output of Australia and the Argentine is left fi'ee, may result in loss to New Zealand; the Dominion trade being placed at a known disadvantage. Speaking to a Times reported subsequently, Mr C. A. deLautour, chairman of directors of the Company, stated that in the event of the Government proposals to have a compulsory pool for ail frozen meat, being carried out, the company would obviously be obliged to withdraw the conditions for the suggested optional pool. The committee which had been appointed to deal with this question, would, he said, remain in office, pending finality being reached in regard to the National scheme. The local scheme had been practically superseded by the Government proposals, and in the meantime all the committee could do was to watch what progress was made, and if the National scheme was only partially applied, or modified, there might then be occasion for the committee to renew its activities. The committee, he stated, was not antagonistic to- the Government’s proposals, but if it failed or was abandoned, steps would be taken to act in the manner most advantageous to the producers. The opinion of the directors in regard to the National pool, said Mr deLautour, was clearly shown in the resolution which had been passed, but nothing, further could be done in the matter pending the result of the conference to bo held in Wellington on January 10.

THE GOVERNMENT* SCHEME

MR. POLSON’S ADVICE TO -7 FARMERS.

DON’T SIGN COUNTER-PETITION.

WANGANUI, Dec. 29. Mr. W. J. Poison, president of the Farmers’ Union, writes as fellows in reference to the meat pool: : “Until they have an opportunity of {examining the Government’s proposals in- connection with the establisli•J ment of a meat pool, I would urge r members of the Farmers’ Union to refrain from signing the petition which is being circulated throughout the Dominion with a lavish disregard for expense. That is in itself significant. This petition demands that the Governmont shall not interfere with the right of the farmer to sell his stock in any way that he may -think fit. Canvassers "are suggesting to farmers that it is the Government’s intention to prevent the sale of fat stock in local saleyards or to butchers. I am familiar with the Government’s proposals, and I say emphatically that such ridiculous provisions were never dreamt of. The Government is anxious to assist producers at the other end, and is proposing to set up a Board, with strong, finance behind it, to prevent producers being exploited. The whole question will be submitted to a conference of all producing interests shortly, and fully threshed out. in the meantime, those who signed the petition referred to are merely playing into the hands of the opponents of the Government proposals, and bv their action condemning what they have had no opportunity of studying.—Press Assn.

PROTEST FROM ENGLISH MEAT COMPANIES.

“DESTRUCTION OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE.

(Received, December 29, 11.5 p.m.) , ’LONDON, December 29. A deputation representing tie prin-. cipal meat companies doing business m Britain and New Zealand requested Sir James Allen to cable Mr Massey their protest against the proposed compulsory meat pool. A representative of a leading firm declares that a Government pool by destroying private enterprise, which has taken a large share m developing New Zealanc. s export trade, will create a precedent in expropriation which- may reach niuc k further than New Zealand and, followiucr Queensland's action in regard to pastoral leases, is a paiamount importance to English, financiers and business men interested in Colonial mter- • es ts. —A. and N.Z.C.A.