IMPERIAL PURCHASES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17362, 8 January 1920, Page 8

IMPERIAL PURCHASES.

IK REQUISITION OF MEAT, i t C/' NEXT SEASON'S OUTPUT. POSITION STILL INDEFINITE. I [BY TEIBBBAPH.-OTW COMUSSPOSDKNT.I WELLINGTON, 'Wednesday, a The Prime Minister is still in communi- * ration with the Imperial authorities on t the question of the extension of the meat » purchase contract. He expects, to have « « definite reply within a day or Wo. f The position of this matter at present » is that Mr. Masse; has asked, the Imperial <3 Government whether it is willing to buy I New Zealand frozen meat for another sea- » M,n. If it refuses, then nothing more r can be done. If it should be willing to c renew the purclmso agreement, then it will he for the New Zealand exporters of meat * to say whether they will agrta to an ex- ° tension of the requisition, or whether they prefer to take the risk of the open market ? and the attendant risk oMuppmg, but until the reply has been received from the Imperial Government it will be useless for the New Zealand producers and ex- l porters to discuss the question. Mr Massej has already stated that the » indication? an that the Imperial Govern- - ment will not take the moat for a. further « term, J .. ( < EXTENSION 0? AGfcEEMENT. , t ' t OPINION IN CANTERBURY. I [it ELEQaAPH—OWN ttffißEßrOHDlST.] ' CHRISTCHURCH. Wednesday. , One of the most important questions- i before the primary producers of the i Dominion at the present time is that of the extension or termination of the Ins- i perisl requisition of meat and wool in ■, New Zealand. •* I The freezing companies of tho Domin- , ion have been considering the question , okwely for some time, and the great • majority of the Canterbury representatives of the companies are of the opinion that the requisition <w meat should be extended for another twelve months, at least. A .free market would probably be welcomed if the shippirg position was normal, but in the existing conditions H is considered that an extension of the , requisition would best serve the interests of the Dominion. '... In regard to wool, the position is a good deal simpler and there has been no noticeable agitation to have the control of this product continued after .'June 30. It is generally considered by " the representatives of the freezing companies that the sooner wool is freed from control the better, as the same difficulties relating to shipping and storage do not arise as in the case of meat.