BARRING THE MARKETS

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 184, 5 August 1920, Page 6

BARRING THE MARKETS

SHEET-OWNERS PROTEST

"CAMOUFLAGE, TRUSTS, AND i'IIOFITEEHING."

The following official statement has fc^en issued by the New" Zealand Sheepowners' " Federation, a body which, it is said ,represents all the registered Sheapowners' Unions in New Zealand: — "A great deal of camouflage is- being made with reference to the granting of a. license or otherwise to the Americans to export meat from. New Zealand. The granting of such a license involves an important issue as it means giving to the producers of mutton and lamb the right to market to the best advantage. The Shipowners' Federation hold very strong views on the subject of trusts and monopolies whether mercantile or otherwise and whether world wide or local. They also object to a mixed Organisation such as the Farmers' Union Conference, many members of vhich represent dairy interests and a great many other pursuits not concerned with sheep owning,1 interfering m matters concerning mutton, lamb, and wool. They consider that the opposition to granting a. license to the Americans to export meat from New Zealand is coming from the rejflttsentatives of those combines or companies who fear local, competition and ~ diminution of the profits that they are now making out of the fshtepowners. A comparison of the l-alance-sheets of the local freezing companies over the period of tli© last five years disclose the enormous tribute that has been collected from the sheep farmer* directly and indirectly. I>OUBLE BENEFITS CLAIMED.

"The. position at the present time is that the stores in New Zealand and Groat Britain contain many million carcases of meat. America is in urgent need of meat and one of the large packing firms of America has corao to New Zealand with a view to buying meat and shipping.it direct to America. If this is done then the congestion in Great Britain will be greatly relieved. The largest stocks now held in Great Britain and New Zealand should be greatly diminished.The Sheepowners' Federation consider that the obvious way to relieve the congestion is to send as much meat as possible to America or other likely markets. To this end an 'American company has asked for a license, and it is quite right that a hoensd should be obtained before export is allowed. The Fanners' Union Conference appeared to object to such a license or licenses being granted, :md want the JSheepowners' Federation to object to the buyers now offering to purchase meat in New Zealand and suggest sending a representative to look for fresh markets.

1 "ELIMINATING THE LOCAL

PROFITEER."

"The only real market offering at present is America, and to that country the agent must go and then Make his contracts with the powers that be thare—most likely the Ameri-t-an meat trusts. Meantime, if this is dono, the local profiteers will have kept the American competitors off the local market and secured the meat from the producer (i.e., the individual sheep farmer) on his own terms, and he will then be f-ejling the r»;eat to the American trusts himself at no advantage to the producer and possibly with sorao modicum of profit to himself. The Sheepowners' Federation wish to eliminate the local profitccTj and also introduce free competition in New Zealand for their meat. It objects voi*y strongly to paying tribute to other exporting firms who will eventually sell to the Americans. So long as the railways are Government property the hulk of the freezing companies are controlled by New Zealand capital (and this should be made mandatory by legislation) the competition of American tuyer3 cannot fail to benefit the sheep farmers.

"A great deal of discussion was raised when a well-known company opened works in the Wanganui disiiict, and the farmers of "that dis-

trict know what effect those works have had on the price of stock in that district. Tho shecpowners believe that the bodies of sheepowners are the best ].-ersons to decide wliat is to be done with their produce and have not forgotten the fact that brokers, iticrchants, and many ont.'ide bodie« have too long been allowed to interfere in their business. There- is no doubt that tho sheepfarmers have already greatly benefited by the sales that have been made to the Americans, and but for their arrival in New Zealand outlook for the farmer would be much worse than at the present, and the congestion in the stores much greater." 0 THE OTHER SIDE. "NOT A REPRESENTATIVE OPINION." Reference to the above statement was made at the annual Dominion conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, by M. G. L. Marshall (Ma-rton). ' - A STRONG PROTEST. . Speaking as a delegate to the annual conference of the Sheepowners.' Federation, Mr Marshall said: "I wish to, explain that the Farmers' TTr,ion in the -Wellington province have heretofore acted as agents for the Sheepowners' Federation for the Wellington province, and as such have collected a, considerable amount to their funds.. As representing thesa contributors from the Wellington province, I wish to protest in no uncertain terms at the attitude they have adopted on this occasion. They claim to be acting for the sheep owners of New Zealand, and yet not a. vote was cast in favor of it < from the North Island, where the majority of the .sheep in New Zealand are depastured. One letter only from GisIcrne was tho sole opinion in favor of their proposition from tho North Island. I claim that fully 90 per cent of those who contributed to their funds in the Wellington province believe that the granting of the license would be- the "most shortsighted policy possible, and would pun the New Zealand, sheepowners in the hands of a powerful foreign combination, which would very soon be able to crush out all our farmers* freezing works, thereby eliminating compstition." Conference decided to place Mv Marshall's statement on record.