THE MEAT TRADE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 46, 6 February 1920, Page 3

THE MEAT TRADE.

I END OF COMMANDEER DUR GOVERNMENT NOT TO BLAME STATEMENT "bF THE PRIME MINISTER. THE COMMISSION PROPOSAL A statement ft as made by the Prime Minister yesterday in reierenee to the criticisms of the Guvernn«:tll at the meeting of produce," held at Palmerston North. Folfetwing is the text of Mr. Maxoey’x •rtaternent: — ’*( don't know where the speakers got thmr information from, but some tjf ; the statements made arc iWJWlessly ! wrung. Mr. Poison seemed to suggest f that in some vague way the Government were to blame because the Imperial Government had notified New Zealand that the commandeer would cease at •bin-! ;M>. Now, as a matter t>f fact, I have oyer and over again expressed the opinion that it would be a good thing to continue the commandeer of meat for another year, but tfaere was a i cry m ute difference of opiilibn among the producers themselves, many contending that aS the war was over they should ba given a free market. I predicted a few weeks ago to a deputation of dairy farmers that the Imperial people would drop the meat and wool, but mig it l«e willing to continue the purchase of butter for another season, but if I bad b§en given authority I should have been only too pleased to ask the British Board of Trade to go on with , New Zealand meat for another season. Whether thev would have done so is, of course, another matter. “STINKING FISH.” “I do think, however, that it is bad policy to speak as Mr. Polson did about our meat being in such bad condition that nobody would buy it.” That is the stinking fish cry with a vengeance, and it is incorrect. A small proportion which had been too long in our stores went mouldy, but not one such carcass was allowed to leave New Zealand. Our meat is next to British-grown in the estimation of both the trade and consumers. and there is nothing to be gained, but a great deal to be lost, by statements to the contrary. THE COMMISSION. “As to the proposed commission, when the deputation of which Mr. Pol- : sun was one, askdd for it, I replied as : follows: — “ ‘ With regard to the suggestion that you should send Home a committee, so far as 1 am personally concerned, 1 thoroughly agree with it. I think it I would be a splendid thing to do. It would give you a lot of information, and allow of an insight into the meat trade which you could not possibly acquire on this side of the world. 1 know you are not asking for payment of expenses, but that you should be given an official position, and I think my colleagues will agree with me that you should have it.’ “Asked afterwards whether the Government would pay the expenses of the commission, I replied, yes, if necessary, and that we should endeavour to send Dr. Reakes, as his technical knowledge would be exceedingly useful. The names of Mr. Polson and Mr. David Jones were sugested as two members of the commission, along with Air. Burrill, of .Feilding, but Mr. Polson met with an accident and was laid up for some time, while the friends of Mr. Jones did him the honour, which he well deserved, of sending him to Parliament to look after their interests. "Since then I have heard nothing from the farmers* organisations with regard to making other arrangements. ”1 have just one other correction to make. Mr. Bennett stated I had said there would probably be 2,000,000 carcasses in store at the end of the season. What I said was that there would be 2.000,000 carcasses so far as it was possible to judge at the end of the year, just the difference between June 30 and December 31. I do not need to repeat the whole of the figures, but I stand by what I said. “We are now approaching the end of the commandeer; it commenced in 1915, and though there have been many difficulties to contend with it has on the whole worked smoothly and my estimate is that when the whole of the commandeered products have been paid for the amount will have been very little short of £150,000,000. I can only say that in the opinion of unbiased men, very often expressed to me, the arrangement was the best under the circumstances that it was possible to make. “1 wrote W Sir James Wilson, the President of the Board of Agriculture, and also of the Farmers’ Union, a »«-.w days ago. making certain suggestions with regard to the present positiin, ard it may do some little good if your paper can find space for it. By the way, the question of the proposed commission is, 1 am given to understand, coming up for consideration at a conference to be held this month. “So far as the Government is concerned there is nothing to cover up in connection with any of these transactions, and I shall be glad to give full particulars at any time.* FIRST THINGS TO BE DONE WORDS OF ADVICE. Following is the text of Mr. Massey’s letter to Str James Wilsou (.chairman of the Board of Agriculture):— February 3, 1920. Dear Sir James, —As you have no doubt seen in the Press, the Government has been officially advised that the Imperial Government’s commandeer in respect of New Zealand meat and wool will terminate on June 30 next. In these circumstances it will be necessary for representative producers and the Government to set about making arrangements as soon after the date as possible, so that operations will be able to be carried on without any unnecessary difficulty when the new season begins. 1 am strongly impressed with the advisability of convening a representative conference from producers and freezing companies, in order that this important question may be fully considered, and I shall be glad, if the Board of Agriculture will _ initiate matters having this object in view. Perhaps you will be so good as to bring the matter at any early date before the board, and communicate to me your suggestions. This leads me to another important subject, in connection with which 1 inrite the careful consideration of the board. You will probably have noticed that a deputation of Wairarapa farmers waited upon me last week to discuss u number of matters, probably the most important oAwhich being that of trail portation, oT, in other words, the question of securing a sufficient supply ot shipping space at reasonable rates i carry their products to the markets of the world. The subject is one of great importance to the Dominion, and requires to be dealt with calmly and witu full and easeful consideration. 1 was somewhat disappointed with the report of my remarks in this corn,) :t.-:>n as they appeared in the newspapers, and the condensed account of tins portion of the interview did not, 1 am afia’.d, give a thoroughly correct impression if what was said. In the course of my reply I pointed out that the first thing to be done was to get the cool stores cleared of the large quantities of Imperial meat waiting for ships to carry it to British ’markets. but while that was being done, ar rangements should be made to take t p the business at the stage where it wa= interrupted in March, 1915, by the a>rangement then made between the British Government and the New Zealand Government for the sale if t‘>e Dominion’s meat to the former, a-id t. at it seemed to me the first step was to see what could be done with lie shipping companies trading between this country and Britain. Are they prepared tp carry bur products at a fair and reasonable-rate? If so, well and good. If not, then let us do what under the circumstances seems to be the next best course, and I. think a strong committee should be set up to look after the in-

terests of the producers, consisting of the Board of Agriculture and representative men from the Farmers’ Unions, the A. and I*, associations, and the freezing companies. I have sometiflWS heard it said that farmers are not business men," but I must sa.v that is not iuy experience. Where their own interests tti» concerned, them are no keener business men, but I must say that this is whom 1 urn thinking could hold their uwrt with the representatives of thu riiippllig combines, or the Moat Trust, or any of the other great organisations of which we have heard so much. Let the matter be left in their hands to negotiate, along with a representative or representatives of the Government-. If it shtißfabtOfy agreement cdunot bo arrived at, and if it bocomos necessary to put additional ships in the trade, then the Government will assist to the full extent of its ability. Personally. I think if anything is dons In this way the producers should at least lie part owners, because if such an undertaking is to be a success, it will re» quire all the support it is possible to obtain-, ami must bo managed upon thoroughly business-like and systematic lines. If it is left to be financed and managed by the Government,, then the Development Fund will be seriously interfered with, and this will happen—contending parties will seek to outbid each other for political support. We had some little experience of this sort of thing not long ago, and the result would be a constant reduction of freights and passenger fares uiVtil the balance-sheet show a loss. This could not very well happen if shareholders were producers, anxious for the welfare of the company in which part of their capital was invested. If it becomes necessary to start such an undertaking, the Government will do its part either ’by guarantee or by taking up a proportion of the shares —whichever may be decided upon—but we must do our business as sensible business men, thinking not only of our own interests, but of the greater interests of the Dominion as a whole. If we act in this way and pull together with our full strength, there need be no fear of exploitation from any trust or combine. I am quite sure you will apreciate the very great importance of the subject, ana I shall be glad to meet representative men to discuss the position at any suitable opportunity.—Yours sincerely, (Signed) W. F. MASSEY. Sir James Wilson, Bulls. AUSTRALIA’S ACTION. STRONG OPPOSITION TO COMMANDEER RENEWAL. (Received 6, 9.20 a.m.) Melbourne, Feb. 6. The inter-State conference of meat producing interests has decided to oppose any renewal of the meat contracts with the British Government, except at a large increase on present export prices. Subsequently, Mr. Hughes and representatives of the State Governments, and producing and exporting, interests discussed the meat position, and empowered Mr. Hughes to ascertain definitely when the present contract ends, and if the British Government intends to renew. On receipt of this information, the conference will reassemble and review the position. — A. and N.Z.) MEETING AT FEILDING. FAVOURS CONTINUANCE OF PURCHASE. Feilding, Feb. 6. A large meeting of farmers held last night carried the following motions: —“That this meeting.'calls upon the New Zealand Government to urge on the British. Government the serious position which will arise in this Dominion with the lifting of the requisiton of to impress upon the Imperiarwovernmeut the necessity of clearing all meat from New Zealand stores at the end of their contract, or to continue the purchase until such time that they are ale to do so, and to announce its policy at the earliest possible moment and to state how they will meet the position which will arise on June 30th.” A further resolution was carried as follows“ That this meeting urges upon our Government the advisability of sending to England at the earliest possible date the commission as at present constituted, namelv Dr. Reakes. Messrs. Polson, Burrell and Jones, for the purpose of assisting the Government to solve the question of the disposal of our meat.”