BRITISH QUOTA ON MEAT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 28 February 1939, Page 4

BRITISH QUOTA ON MEAT

? GLUT OF OLD EWES PREDICTED ) FARMERS’ UNION DISCUSSES ) SITUATION ( I United I‘r**nß AiooHailnn! ? HASTINGS, 27th February. ? The value of old ewes would be s greatly reduced as a result of the f • British quota, said Mr Lloyd Ham- ; I mond, Southern Hawkes Bay represenr I tative on the executive of the New Zea- ; land Farmers’ Union, speaking at a ' combined meeting of the provincial - i executives of the Hawkes Bay and . Southern Hawkes Bay Farmers’ Union* t in Waipukurau to-day. Mr Hammond r ! said he was of the opinion that the 1 quota would cause a glut on the market ■ j and that the man with these sheep ■ | would need protection. He believed ' J that some measure of control would be i necessary and that a levy was desirable ' j to compensate owners of old ewes. Con- ■ | trol by the Meat Board rather than the State was to be preferred. The meeting discussed a proposal to send a representative to Britain to 1 meet British farmers and the Board of Trade and present New Zealand's case. 1 A resolution was adopted approving ‘ of the principle of sending Home a rtpresentative. Mr Hammond criticised the action ' of some members of the Meat Board, t alleging that “dust was thrown in the , eyes of farmers.” The British Beef | Council, he said, was responsible for the quota allocation. He believed, however. in the value of well regulated j quotas. | The meeting agreed to support the objects of the Defence League and com- | pursory military training was supported in principle. SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS A remit dealing with the Social Security Act asked whether it was the intention of the Government to suspend payments of the proposed taxation to meet the benefits which had been suspended. One member expressed the opinion that the answer “No” could be expected and moved that an emphatic protest be entered in view of the benefits not coming into operation on Ist April. The motion was carried. Mr J. H. Joll (Hastings) advocated J compulsory membership of the Farmers’ Union. “You must meet like with like.” he said. “We are the only thing which matters in the Dominion. Coercion should be met with coercion.** A resolution supporting compulsory membership of the union was carried. “COSTS MUST COME DOWN” I “Farm costs must come down,” said I the chairman, Mr J. C. Bolton. Commenting on this Mr J. H. Joll I made special reference to the raising of overdraft rates by some banks as “th# j beginnings of more serious trouble.” j Another member expressed the opin- ( ion that rising costs were “a move toi ward ruining the farmer and bringing I about nationalisation.” Referring tu these contentions, one j delegate observed that concrete figures j should be produced, not opinions, other- ! wise the subject should be left alone, j The meeting then went on to discuss j taxation, farm labour and other cost ! factors. ! j ! | ! i