The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, January 16, 1940. CHECK ON MEAT EXPORTS

Grey River Argus, 16 January 1941, Page 4

The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, January 16, 1940. CHECK ON MEAT EXPORTS

After all the ballyhoo lately over speeding up the killing and handling of meat for? export, it turns out that t would have been a far more prudent policy to have hastened more slowly. The fact of the matter is that, for the present, Britain can manage (pete well without many of the earcases which in vast numbers have been transferred from pasture into cool store. The Opposition Leader says the decision by Britain 1o obtain supplies of meat from nearer sources is “a great disappointment. ”, The Farmers’ Union, through its Secretary admits that this organisation has actually foreseen this development, and is not surprised as the restriction on Dominion meat exports. Not a hint, however, have the interests in question let out whilst crying aloud all the time for the workers to speed up and toil longer hours in piling up what now must mean simply a tax on the country’s storage capacity. It is just as well to bear in mind this admission when reading the complaint of the Farmers’ Union Secretary, Mr. O’Shea, that, demands, even in face of the prospective restrictions, by exporters for yet faster killing ami storing were not met by workers .n the degree desired. Mr. O’Shea even gees so far as to say that, while lie knows quite well the shortage of ships is the real and substantial reason for the curtailment of Dominion meat exports, the curtailment might conceivably have not occurred were ships despatched more speedily. There is not. one tiltle of evidence to support that suggestion. Nor is there any to show that the curtailment would not have actually come all tbe sooner had vessels been despatched any faster and been consequently the sooner in a position whence Britain could divert them to those ports to which they now lire destined to go for meat instead ::t to New Zealand. No doubt Mr. O’Shea has an eye to dairy exports when he talks of meat exports, because he wants quicker handling of butter and cheese. Fan he, however, give any assurance to farmers that, for the time being, the very speed

in despatch may not hasten cur- | tailinent in this case as in that of meat? He cannot do anything of the kind. It may lie just as well that this cut has come now, even though it may be as disappointing as the Opposition Leader finds it. It draws attention at least to the possibility that Britain, with war time expansion of ( her own farming, will require less of our produce for the future. The development has a hearing. I also, upon the (lovernment’s ' scheme for the self lenient of re turning soldiers. The idea is that of small holdings, but good land, whereas in the case of the produce now being held up the source is mainly large holdings. 'Phe Government intends that, while experienced men among the soldiers shall be able to go without delay upon holdings, those in need of it will at once, be given training. It ought to be a consideration that farming on these holdings should be made as diversified as possible, and especially designed to afford the maximum degree of subsistence. Instead of this to-day the average farmer specialises, and buys from the proceeds food and oilier things which he could in a great many cases raise himself. New Zealand should now prepare for the day when exportation will not form so preponderant or lopsided a part of its production. The Farmers’ Union Secretary is preaching to everybody the doctrine of non-spending on the strength of the meat restriction, but if this meat is unsaleable oversea and nobody here will buy, the only recourse will be to use the surplus in place of the fertilisers that, used to come from Nauru. .Much as some farmers and exporting interests may berate the wage earners, the next few years may be destined to prove the wage earners of the Dominion more essential for farmers than ever, and that not merely in handling their produce, hut also in consuming and paying for it. .