MINISTERS AND FARMERS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 29 May 1919, Page 5

MINISTERS AND FARMERS

IMPORTANT MATTERS DISCUSSED

(BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

WELLINGTON, May 27. Matters arising out of remits passed by the conference of the Wellington Provincial Farmers' Union, were discussed with the Hons. Mac Donald and Guthrie, by delegates to the conference. The questions dealt with included shipping operations, meat trust and fixing the price for butter. The Hon. W. A. Mac Donald said in regard to the question of insulated shipping, he did not think the Government had left anything undone in this respect. Mr Marshall: Is it not a fact that the meat trust has had influences at work to divert some of the ships that should have come here? The Minister replied that he had been advised from England that influences of the trust had no such effect at all. In respect to the operations of the meat trust, Mr Mac Donald said the general position was serious, arid he was strongly of opinion that before the meat contract with the Imperial authorities ceased a strong commission should be sent Home from New Zealand to enquire into the whole question. Personally he believed the Government would have to send agents abroad to look after the interests of producers of the country. He hoped Dr Reakes would bo able to go Home within the next few months to go into the whole position. The conference had suggested that the names of representatives of the meat trust should be published, and he could not see any reason why' that should not be done.

The Minister went on to exolaiii the position regarding the prices of butter and potatoes. With regard to the potatoes, he said the reason why the embargo had been placed on their export was that the price had soared from £3 15s to £17 and upwards to £20 per ton. He knew it was unfair to exercise drastic powers in connection with the produce of the soil, but they were living under extraordinary conditions, and f^)d pn'c?.s had fr o >ie un tremendously. Therefore they could not wonder at industrial unrest.

ihe Hon. Guthrie said that everything possible was being done to try to relieve the shipping position. Had it not been for strikes and epidemics more ships would have been available for loading in New Zealand. At the present time half the season's outnut of cheese, amounting to 447,000 crates was in .store. With regard to butter' they had nothing to fear, and the same could be said regarding wool. They could get plenty of space for the shipment of wool. There was an idea abroad that the equalisation scheme in respect to butter pressed heavily on the exporters. Cabinet was considering the suggestion .to take, from the consolidated fund the money necessary to improve the position of those producers whose butter was kent for 10-al consumption at a lower price than that fixed for export.