MEAT POOL PROPOSAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17984, 9 January 1922, Page 4

MEAT POOL PROPOSAL.

TACTICS OF OPPONENTS. COMPLAINT BY MINISTER. STATEMENTS CHALLENGED. .[BY TELEGRAPH.—PBESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Saturday. The Minister for Agriculture, Hon. W. Nosworthy, in an interview to-day, said: "It is to be regretted that there should have been introduced into the present controversy regarding the proposed meat pool, by certain interests opposed to it, methods which are not of this country. A great deal of money, estimated for me at between £80 and £100 per day, is apparently being spent in hostile propaganda throughout the Dominion. While no doubt from their point of view this action may be considered justifiable protection of their interests, there can be no defence whatever of the circulation of incorrect information, the object of which can only be to mislead and predispose the minds of the producers before their representatives have met to hear the scheme outlined by the promoters. ''The country can be congratulated on having a press which will only permit such propaganda to occupy its columns as advertisement matter, which enables the readers better to judge of its specious nature. I cannot deal in detail with the wong statements appearing, because they vary according to the localities in which they appear, but in reference to one thing said, I deny absolutely that the Government has been telegraphing the conveners of district meetings to keep out anybody who can give information about the scheme, or that the Government has any motive in the action which it has taken other than to endeavour to help the producers to help themselves and place this great branch of the Dominion's primary industries, one of the finest produce exporting industries in the world, on the best possible footing." DOMINION'S LONDON TRADE. OFFICIAL FIGURES CRITICISED. [b? telegraph.—press association.] WELLINGTON. Saturday. The Association of Meat Exporters of New Zealand states that the officials who supply the Minister for Agriculture with figures showing the relationship of the New Zealand output of meat and the British consumption are clouding the issue when they select the 1920 figures as a basis of comparison. The 192 C export was 50 per cent, in excess of the normal output-, as the 1920 figures included accumulations held over in store from the previous year. Furthermore, they know, or ought to know, that in 1920 the production of meat in the United Kingdom was suffering from the depletion of 'ivestock due to war conditions. This decrease in Britain's home production amounted to about 30 per cent., and as it must be expected to recover rapidly, the statement that the New Zealand oatput is equivalent to 5 per cent, of the Home consumption presents a truer picture of the general position than the figures selected by the department. In any caße, whichever figures be taken, the quantity is so small that tho contention that a pooling scheme could pot hold up pricea if amply justified. It would be more to the point if the officials would draw attention to the fact that South America has increased its output of mutton and lamb during 1921. by over 1,000,000 carcases. OPINIONS IN THE WAIXATO. ISSUE DIVIDED AT HAMILTON. [by MLSOBAPH.—own cohrispondent.J HAMILTON. Saturday. A meeting of farmers at Hamilton today discussed the meat pooL The chairman, Mr. E. McGregor, and Mr. A. C. Milne spoke in favour of the scheme, but Messrs. W. C. Rollett and J. Barugh opposed it. The latter favoured district pools for the present, leaving the wider question of a Dominion pool to be decided later, Mr. Barugh was appointed to represent the local producers at the Wellington Conference. » , [sy TELEQBAPH. —OWN COBRESPONDENT. J TE AWAMUTU, Saturday. A meeting of meat producers held today resolved unanimously "that this meet, ing approves of the Government meat pool proposal-" Mr. J. B. Teasdßle was appointed delegate to the Wellington Conference." ATTITUDE OF SIR T, MACKENZIE. REFUSAL TO INTERVENE. [BT TKI/EQEAPHi—-PBESB .ASSOCIATION.] DANNEVIRKE. Saturdsy.

In an address under the auspices of the Southern Hawke's Bay Farmer' Union on the marketing of primary; product!) at Homei, Sir Thomas Mackenzie mentioned the proposed meat pool. He had declined an invitation to attend a farmers' meeting to consider tho pool proposals, and explained that, as this was a matter which closely concerned producers, it would have been inadvisable for him to be present. Mr. Massey should havo a fair field to develop his scheme. Replying to a question, Sir Thomas Mackenzie said that personally he would prefer the Dominion astablishing its own market, but they would b« up against stiff opposition, entailing enormous expenditure. To run meat shops successfully they would require to get_control of a considerable quantity of chiliad beef, and Argentina would beat them in this connection. He was not trying to throw cold water on the producers' scheme. He was not antagonistic, but merely wwntcd to explain his position. HAWKE'S BAT SBEEPOWNEBS. OBJECTION TO COMPULSION. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS) association.] NAPIER, Sitoday. A meeting of oyer 50 sheopowners and others interested in meat considered the pool proposal, and decided that it would be undesirable for any compulsion in connection. with {be pool. Provided there is no compulsion the meeting was not antagonistic. THOROUGH AKWAL SHOWN. views of mmm farmers. [BY TELEGRAPH.— >B&85I ASSOCIATION.] MAHTOJT, Messrs. E. Newman and W. S. Glenn, M.P.'s, addressed a large meeting, which resolved to thoroughly approve of the principle of the proposed mm oocl trust of producers of the Dominion,'and will: ?;ivo the scheme endorsement at the conerence. Me. P. J. Sladen was appointed delegate to the conference. CHANNELS OF DISTRIBUTION. I NO INTERFERENCE URGED. [BI TKLEGHAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WANOANUI. Saturday. ! A large and representative meeting of producers approved of tho principle of the meat pool, but recommended fikt. existing channels of distribution here Mid in England be interfered with as i.t.le as possible. Messrs. E. Parsons and R. Fanley were elected delegates to the Dominion conference. The meeting was addressed by Messrs. W. S. Glenn and W, A, Veitch, M.P.'ts, and Mr, W. J. Poison, rejmeatjug tha Fftxmws' JJniog.