THE MEAT COMMANDEER.

Mataura Ensign, 28 January 1920, Page 4

THE MEAT COMMANDEER.

MR MASSEY'S OPINIONS, THE ACCUMULATIONS L\ T STORE. The Prime Minister gave by way of interview to a 'Dominion' reporter some of his opinions on the now situation in the meat world owing to the Imperial Government's announcement regarding the close of the commandeer. "The decision of the Imperial Government was not unexpected," said Mr Massey. •"For some t'mc pa«t there have heen indications which went to show that the British Board of Trade did not intend to continue the commanderr beyond the end' of the present term. It will now be necessary for the producers to make the necessary arrangements tor placing their meat on the British market on their own account, and the only difficulty in the way is the fact that so far as it is possible to iud«;c> there will be at the end of the present year (which really means the -beginning of next season) a considerable quantity oi the Brit sh Government's meat remaining in the cold stores. My estimate is that in the period from January 1 to .luue 30 six million carcases will he placed in the cold stores. Thai, with the quantity in store on December 31 (approximately four m;!ll : ons/ % will mean that there" will be not less than 10 mill:on carca.ses for which to provide %shir>i>ing space. I doubt if this can be done in i one year. I think the most that Ave can expect to have l'fted will eight million, leaving a carry-over of two million' to be handled in the iU>2l season,, and for this special arrangements will have to be made so that it 'will not interfere any more than can he helped with the shipment of the newseasons' meat, which will be coming in at that time. The problem should not be incapable of solution, and I do not think that we shall find the Imperial authorities unreason ah le. Personally, I should have liked the meat commandeer to continue for another season, but we have got to do the best with the position as it exists, and I would suggest .that t} le Board ,of Agriculture should' take the initiative in doing whatever may he necessary. I heed hardly say th-e Government will give every, assistance possible.

COMMANDEER GOOD FOR NEW ;; ZEALAND. ' 'I have no doubt .farmers' unions and other farmers' organisations will thoroughly-consider the very important change which they will have to meet and deal with at the commencement of the 1920-21 season. The arrangement the end of which is now. in.sight has been sometimes adversely criticised, but, on the whole, it has worked well. One.thing is quite certain: that without, the Imperial Government taking the responsibility of providing ships itwould have been impossible to get our products away, and it requires no stretch of imagination to realise what that woulld- have, meant, not only :to the producers but to the whole of the population of this country. "We have to, remember, too, that the cost 1 of the meat to the Imperial Government was very greatly increased by the immense sums paid for cold storage when shinping was scarce, or -not obtainable, by the interest on the advances of 75 per cent, on-the-value of the meat- far most of the time whilst it was in store, and aiso by the loss cf some thousands of carcases, which became mouldy and unfit. for human consumo'it through be ; ng kept too long;.in .si;pre. It is only right that trade should tret back to normal now that we- are emerging from war conditions, but when we are .able to look back upon what, lias ; been dune for its by the Imperial Government, I am quite certain, that all people, will admit th:i't we have been exceptionally we'll treated.-

THE BRITISH POLICY. "I am..SP-rcy. Wtat, on account of the delays wlv'ch have recently occurred in ports in discharging cargoes from New Zealand and Australia sev- , era! of the ships .which were intended ;to load here in February will not b& able to keep to their, expected dates. I trust, however, that the delay will not be such, as to. cause, congestion.and consequent inconvenience at this end. And here let me say that 1 cannot understand the policy of the British Food Control Department in keeping up the pr.'eHjs for meat..to such an extent as to interfere seriously with consumption, and that apparently is what has taken place. Two years. ago,a,.v,erv high price was being maintained, so that by pooling supplies and keeping prices to sufficiently high level a loss on the United States purchases was avoided. So far as I have been, able to . learn purchases from the States ceased some time.: ago, so there, is no occasion. fo« that •sort, of thing now. I have seen it. .suggested that-it is being done for the •benefit of the British farmer, and possbly that is the case, though the wonder is that the consuming population •put up with i.

WOOL AND DAIRY PRODUCE. "A telegram from (lie Secretary of State says that reply \v.tit "regard to wool •an u> dairy prouuee will be "sent as soon as possible. 1 tti nk that the wooi commandeer w:.ll also come to an end at June ot). By. the way, a communication \va s received'in December stating •that the amount of the 50 per cent.: profits due up to March 31, 1918, would probably be 'finally determined and _avail-able- about the m.-ddle of the present montii, and that steps were being taken to expedite completion of the returns 10 March 31, 1919. No further information has, howeverj come to hand, though 1 hardly think it. w:ll be much longer delayed. But coming back to the possib. Uties of the Imperial Government des nng to go on with thw commandeering system, my own opinion is that ihey vviiil not care about purchasing any oilier product than nutter, which is undoubtedly scarce and dear in Britain at the present date, though what the price will be like by tins rune next year (and it w.ll be nearly that date before the new season's butter reaches Britain) no one can predict. HIHTISH WOOL CONTROL. •'There are enormous stocks of wool in Britain and the overseas Domiirons at present but' the Department whicn controls this artcle is apparently plac<ng just sufficient on the market to meet the immediate requirements of iho cloth-working industry, and this is keepng up the value of the raw material. No doubt this is a profitable policy for the Department, but 1 doubt whether it is a wse one. There are possible complications in prospect. Next season's Australasian ol p will probab'y go on to a free market, and be sold in the usual way; but supposing the Brit'•sn Government., owns then only half of the wool they own what will happen? WI7I it come into competition with our wool? I don't think lor one moment that they would do anything unfair to us or against their own interest, but th's storing up of huge quantities of wool suggests,j'ery serous and very awkward possibilit es.

NOT PESSIMISTIC. "I believe that I understand- the difficulties, or most <>!' them, that we shall he called upon to face, but I am not by any means pess ; mistic. Britain can take all the meat, wool and dairy produce that we can send, and a great deal more. It is my'op ; nion that with a good market we "can produce much more than w« hare raised up till the present.

SHIPPING—A WABXIXG. ''There are other question?, to be considered besides those I have mentioned —that oi' transport, for instance. We must have sufficient shipping to carry our produce to the markets of the | world, and at reasonable freights. If these condirons can be met, well and good. If not. we shall have to do the : next best tiling. Let it be remestbere'd that we can load even now 100 big ships of- 10,000 tons m one year with ,\e\v Zealand products. That is. a business worth catering for. and the bus> nt'Ks is growing, and will continue to grow. Tt is for the companies trading to Xew Zealand to do the right thing under the circumstances that have: arisen. 'Live and, let live' is a good motto, and if acted up to will save a deal of trouble, in the future. LXrON IS STKEXOTH. "In the meantime we mnsi avo>'d dissension. There are factors at work now to create jealousy arid frict on. 1 feel confident that we sliall have the American Meat Trust renewng their efforts to obtain a footing in this country—efforts, which I hope will hj? unavailing. I trust that we shall be "able to stand together and work for ourselves and one another, and so make* certain that, individually and collectively we shall" reap the reward of our industry."