MEAT SUPPLIES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 30 March 1915, Page 2

MEAT SUPPLIES

I FARMERS' GRIEVANCES

(United Press Association.) WELLINGTON", March 29. A deputation of beef producers from the Manawatn and R-angitikei districts ■waited on the Prime Minister to-day and made known grievances they considered they had against freezing companies, hy whom these producers declared they were being exploited. They also considered that they had a grievance against the Government regarding the representation of farmers at the recentconference oil the Imperial meat supply scheme.

Mr Massey replied that the conference was called, not to consider the prices of meat, but the shortage of shipping. Later, when the Imperial authorities asked for all the exportable meat, the matter was referred to the same conference, at which 12 farmers were present. Mr Goring Johnston complained that freezing companies were offering less for beef since the schedule of prices had come He thought that if anything was tp be gained as between what the Imperial authorities paid and the farmers received, the (Government and not the freezing companies should "benefit. This difference was in some cases as much as £1 a head for fat cattle. Mr Massey said the whole trouble had arisen through the shortage of ships owing to the war, but the New Zealand Government had managed . to secure enough shipping space to handle exports to the end of February, and one million .more carcases of sheep had been despatched than in the same period last year. This month, however, enough space had not been available. He thoueht a mistake was made at the beginning of the war through not increasing freii-' :