PRICE OF FISH AND MEAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13146, 7 April 1906, Page 6

PRICE OF FISH AND MEAT.

the premier advocates STATE DEPOTS. •. ■ •- * . v.*' '' ■ ' 1 4 • '■■ '* : - " ■ •» . I. -V f. SMALL TRUSTS AND COMBINES. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN' CORRfcSI'QN'DEXV. J ChbistcHUßOH, Eridav. .. Thio Premier seems quite serious, according to the Times,, in the suggestion he made at. Timaru as to the establishment of State fish and meat shops in the centres of (he colony. "1 have not mentioned this matter lightly,": lie said to .a- representative of the Times. " I know that I am laying myself and my colleagues open to a great deal ofj adverse criticism, but the situation is so serious that something must be done. The prices of fish and meat, as well as of some other foodstuffs, are unreasonably high, and the position results from: the action of combines'. The most effective way to bring the i prices to a reasonable -level is to introduce Government competition. I see nothing incongruous in my suggestion. : The Government's aim is to reduce the cost of living. With this end in view, it has opened Stale coal mines, and initiated a project for the erection of. homes for workers at reasonable rentals. What has been happening in the colony for some years past has been that the workers, through the Arbitration Court, the Government, and the Legislature, have been securing increased wages, while the benefit has been taken from them by the action of the combines in respect . to food and ' coal supplies. There has been co-operation, in which shipowners have -been concerned, in maintaining high prices. The resulting increased cost of living has, in my opinion, been (lie principal cause of tho demand for higher wages through the Arbitration Court. It is clear that this constant pressure upon, • tin? workers may result in forcing the rate of wages up to a limit beyond which the industries of the colony will not be able to bear, and that may result in disaster. The Cabinet has'come to no conclusions in the matter, but the fish rings in Wellington, Chrislchurch, ami other centres are well known. The fishermen are permitted to supply a certain quantity, and any surplus over that has to be' thrown back into the- sea. in order hat unreasonably high ] trices may be maintained.' I have no doubt that double the number of men now engaged in fishing might be profitably employed were it not that, the traffic, in fish is restricted in; order that a few men may make large profits. FISH RKYOND THE WORKER. ■ Fish ■ at present is a food procurable regularly only by people in a good financial position, and blue cod caught in New Zealand waters is actually sold cheaper in Australia "'tlnvi it is in this colony. The New Zealand Government gives a subsidy of one halfpenny a pound on fish for export, thus reducing the cost to people outside the colony, but this cannot explain that anomaly. If fish were placed within the reai.-h of all, its consumption would become general, ; and as the supply is unlimited an enormous trade would result. Yet a; ring stands in .the way, and says that the supply shaill be limited, in order that price* and profits may be high. As regards meat and bread, what is going on is so well known that it is hardly necessary for me to go into details. The fact that the people of London, (-aidili'. Liverpool, and Manchester can \ get New Zealand lamb, mutton, ami beet superior in j quality to that retailed in the colouv, ;C.J less than the retail price charged . keie, , • speaks for itself. - If a Royal Commission,] were set up to inquire into this subject- it. j would procure such information as would] arouse the - public to protest against • what is going on. I don't think there is another part of the world where small combines, especially in respect to food supplier have been allowed .to work as freely :as they have been doing in New Zealand. I question the • efficacy of legislation as applied to these sniJ'.ll food trusts. Reasonable com-' petition is what is inquired. The previous successful experiment!? impel me to the conclusion that the simplest, most economical, and surest way of dealing with ilu-se lings is to open tish' muikei 1 and meat ■ markets, and fix (lie maximum - rates payable by the consumer." "There is one body of people generally overlooked entirely,'' said the -Premier, in conclusion. " I mean the people who hold salaried positions. j They are not sufficiently numerous or ,sufficiently, well organised to have, political power, and while the cost of livin has been goiug up their salaries have, re.i tied etationary. They are living in. a s c of genteel poverty, and they feel the high prices more keenly than any other section of the community. If coal, lish, and meat were reduced in price the lives of these, people would be heavenly Compared to what they are now, a.nd there- is really no-reason why the colony should continue to suffer under the existing'conditions." " ■ ' AUCTIONEERS AND DEALERS • INDIGNANT. The Premier's allegations as to combines in his recent speech at. Timaru ha.* roused the indignation of Christ-church fish auctioneers. Mr. Seddon alleged that there was a fish - combine 'in Christ church, e.i d that it. stopped a;'poor fisherman from sending consignment's of fish: from the Chatham*.' A dealer who handled two consignments of fish from the Chathams states that the second consignment arrived in bad condition, hence the difference in price paid, amd the auctioneers generally repudiate the statement that a combine exists. The prices of all fish, they any,, vary greatly according to the supply so-that there is nothing out of the common in the difference between the first consignment from the Chathai'.ns and" subsequent consignments. The prices depend upon the supply, and the supply depends upon the weather. , >