BOARD OF TRADE.

Northern Advocate, 5 December 1916, Page 2

BOARD OF TRADE.

PVRGAYILLE SESSION.

SUDDENLY CALLED SOUTH.

J A report, from Dargavillc stat'j; J that Messrs W. G. McDonald and ?.' Hally, of the Dominion Board of Trade, who sat in Whangarei on Thursday last, met the Mayor and Borough Council members of Dargavill© on the following evening. Mr .McDonald explained that one of the principal duties of the- Board was to inquire into the living conditions of the people with a view to improving those conditions wherever possible. The chief reason for the Board coming North at this junction was the position of the meac trade in view of the Imperial prices that had just been published. It. was freely predicted that there would be a rise in the retail price of meat at no distant date and there was a general consensus of opinion that it had gone about as high as it could go in the interests of the consumer. There were 70,000 primary producers in the Dominion and everyone wished to see them getting the highest possible price for their output; but, at the same time, It must not be forgotten that there are something like 1,000,000 consumers who must receive consideration. While the meat problem was the primary cause of their visit, the Board had also to bring the timber industry under review. Reports were to hand from all the dairy districts that the end of the Dominion white pine resources were in sight and that the time had just about arrived' to block export. Consequently the Government had referred the matter to them to report. On Saturday Messrs McDonald and Hally returned to Auckland, and o'i Sunday evening left for Wellington and the South, where they were unexpectedly called away on urgent business connected with the Board of Trade. The Board had intended taking evidence in Auckland yesterday regarding a proposal by the Government to limit the exportation of white pin? timber from the Dominion, but, owing to important business requiring its attention in Wellington, the proposed sitting has been temporarily abandoned. During the sittings in the North a great deal of attention was given to the price and supply of meat and bread, and the cxtenswe evidence collected has been sent on to ihc Government.