WOOL AND MEAT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17881, 29 August 1918, Page 4

WOOL AND MEAT.

THE IMPERIAL CONTRACTS

DISCUSSED BY FARMERS’ UNION.

At the meeting of the North Canterbury Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union yesterday, matters in connection with the contracts made with the Imperial Government for the sale of New Zealand wool and meat were discussed at some length. The Omihi Branch forwarded resolutions affirming that the surplus profits on ivool not needed for military purposes by tho Imperial Government should not be devoted to any one patriotic purpose, as recommended by Mr Newman, and that in view of the large profits made by shipping companies these companies should provide for the dependents of their own employees lost at sea. The chairman (Mr D. Jones) said that there were no profits on the outside sale of wool available to Now Zealand producers. Mr F. G. Horrell said the arrangement referred to was a private one between certain producers and certain shipping companies. The union could not intervene.

Mr R. Evans said that the Imperial Government took most of tho. profits from the shipping companies in war taxation. The motion was carried.

Reporting on tho Dominion Conference the chairman said that very little was understood of the attitude of Conference in connection with the proposed further commandeer of wool. When tho Imperial Government commandeered wool in 1914 it offered to put all wool not required for military purposes on the open market, dividing the profits with the producers. Ministers present at the Conference were without information as to whether this was being done, but there was fairly conclusive evidence that manufacturers and retailers at Home were farming the patriotism of New Zealand farmers. Wool was released to them at a comparatively low price, without restriction on their prico to the public. In consequence of protests these conditions were being altered. In New Zealand the position was almost the same. New Zealand manufacturers obtained wool at a fixed price, but there was no restriction on the prices of their goods to the public. Wool for soldiers’ socks cost 3s Gd to 3s 9d per pound before tho war. Now the price was 10s to 10s 6d per pound. While the farmer bore the odium the commercial man pocketed the cash. A proper conference with producers should have been held before recent contracts were entered into with tho Imperial Government.

In connection with tho proposed extension of tho moat coutraot, continued Mr Jones, it was suggested to the Minister that the contract with 'the Imperial Government should be extended to a considerable period after the war. Tho Minister sought tho opinion not of tho producers but of middlemen—tho meat companies. The speaker had protested to the Minister asking that reference should be made to -the producers’ conference previously appointed by the Government, which entered into the original contract. The speaker did not know wliat action had been taken, but such unbusinesslike methods gave liitlo confidence in the Administration. The Conference would probably agree to the extension of tho contra<r\ but there were two vital questions—tl payment for the meat and the lifting of a sufficient quantity annually to enable farmers to successfully carry on their business. . An unqualified acceptance of extension was an intimation io the Imperial authorities that the payment and shipping arrangements were satisfactory, which would weaken the Prime Minister’s appeal for more shipping, the most important matter of the moment.

After a further short discussion tho chairman’s report was adopted.