FARMERS ANXIOUS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10507, 7 February 1920, Page 10

FARMERS ANXIOUS

AFRAID OF MEAT TRUST UP AGAINST A BRICK WALL. The serious outlook regarding the frozen, moat industry, emphasised by the fact that the Imperial Government's commandeer is to be lifted in Juno next, was responsible for a big meeting in Feilding of farmers on Thursday night. Mr Campbell, who presided, explained that the object of the meeting was the discussion of the raising of tho meat commandeer. This question was of vital importance, arid ho hoped it would bo well considered. They were to consider the question as it affected the whole country. It was not a question for the freezing companies alone. SHIPS USED FOR" STORAGE. Mr AA’. J. Poison, tv ho was present by imitation, said when the agitation began nine months ago they recognised they were in for a serious position, as t.ho shipping was not catching up to tho accumulated store. That meant that When the commandeer ended they would be up against a brick: wall. If the Imperial Government insisted on the terms of tho commandeer, the freezing companies would commence next season with stores full, and tho moat killed then would bo hold in New Zealand for possibly ns long as 12 months. In that case no ono know what the nloat would bo worth, and this would seriously affect the prices. The companies could not pay anything like present prices for meat. The farmers’ companies would freeze on farmers’ account, but. not buy. How then would tho farmers be able to finance their meaty Ho had felt all along that the imperial Government intended to end the commandeer as soon as possible, and ho felt it would bo over this coming June. AVhen that commandeer ended, what better position could there bo for tho Meat Trust? This trust controlled shipping, and was going largely into the retail business in Britain and on tho Continent. If tho Trust came hero and offered to buy from the farmer next season, he would naturally sell, and who could blame him. seeing the position ho would bo in? Shipping was not entirely tho crux of the whole situation. Tho position was now established that tho Home stores woro full and tho ships were being used for storage Tho result was that ships which were duo hero had been diverted elsewhere. Tho people in the Old Country had been disciplined into using less meat, and tho Homo farmers'had been encouraged by the Government till they were now able to supply tho whole of tho Horne market. The effect was that there was very; little sale for the frozen meat.

A good deal of the meat at Home had been put in store for a long time, and some of it had got info bad condition. Air Massey had taken him to task for raising “this stinking fish cry.’’ But this statement had been publicly made at Homo. It was from Homo- papers and Home letters he was quoting, and what’ was tho use of the Now Zealand people hiding their heads in the sand and not facing thb facts? THE PROPOSED COMMISSION."

Regarding the proposed commission to go Home, Air Burrell and ho had been appointed to that body, but neither wished to go Home just «iow. Ho thought it would be better for tho Commission to go out of existence if it ""ere not acceptable to the Government, and let a Commission- officially appointed by tile Government itself of men who thoroughly understood the position go Home. Air Massey now wanted them to-reaffirm What they did nine months ago, and said that if the Commission was necessary ho would send it Home. ARGENTINE COMPETITION. , Quoting figures, to show the quantity of meat in store in Britain and America and here, Air Poison said the Argentine stores were emptying, <nnd nest season Argentine moat-would go on to tho British market freshly killed, and what chance would tho Now Zealand meat, which had been in store three or four years, have in competition with this? Air Poison read extracts showing how' tho name of tho New Zealand meat was suffering from putting these stale carcases on tho retail market, the purport being that the dry, tasteless pieces of Dominion mutton were making tho meat less and less popular. PRICES IN BRITAIN.

Further, the British Government was maintaining the high prices for imported meat to balance its accounts on the prices paid for Home-grown moat. That made the shoo pinch. Ho knew that the statesmen at Homo were just and honourable men, and if the position as regards Now Zealand were put to them, they would seo tho fair thing done by tho Dominion.

AVORiK FOR THE COMMISSION. If a Commission wore sent Home, part of its work would bo to re-qdu-cato the British people to tho use of frozen meat, and to make some arrangement regarding tlio meat hi store at Home. They might also inquire into the possibility ot now markets on tho Continent. The herds and flocks there had been depleted, and now was the time to establish markets there, before they got back to their pre-war ’position.

It was time they had a definite lead from tlio Government regarding the position. The farmers were in for an anxious time, and tho time was*rapidly passing when they should know definitely what was to he oxpeotoa. Mr Hugh Burrell said any trouble which came to tho country would come first and directly upon the producer. Referring to his statement ait Palmerston North and tho Premier's comment thereon, Mr Burroil was sure that -\fr Massey had said when the next killing season opened they would have 2,000.000 carcases m store. Well, Mr Burroil thought that figure could easily bo doubled Put it at 4,000,000 carcases, and then what position would they bo in. , Regarding the Commission, Mr Massey had said if ho ■were again invited to send a Commission Home ho would do so. Who was going to hand iho invitation try Mr Massey ? Ho, tho speaker, certainly was not. Ho thought Mr Massey’s words mcant_ ho was dissatisfied with tho Commission which had been previouly sot up. Ho (Mr Burrell) thought they should leave tho Commission alone just now, and immediately ascertain what tho position was. When, for patriotic reasons some years ago, they met in Wellington, and agreed to the terms of tho commandeer. they little thought they were going to land in the pinition in wihch thay now found themselves, lie

thought they should picparo a resolution on broad liies and adopt it .for circulation to all the farmers’ unions and institutions throughout the Dominion sotting out their views and requirements. Mr AI. A. Conway moved: —‘That this meeting call the New Zealand Government to urge on tho British Government the serious position winch I will arise in this Dominion with the 'lifting of the requsition of meat, and [to impress upon tho Imperial Government tile necessity to clear Hie meat from Noli- Zealand stores at tho cud of their contract or to continue tho purchase until such times that they arc able to do so and to announce its policy at tho earliest possible moment, and too slate how they will meet the position which will arise in Juno next? STORES FULL TO THE DOORS. Sjieaking on the motion, Mr Conway said their thanks were due to Air Poison and Air Burrell for tho trouble they had taken to compel tho farmers to take an interest in their own affairs. Air Poison had shown that the British ' Government had commandeered tho Home-grown meat at a high price, and that the British lari- ers were able to supply tho whole cf the Homo market. Could they expect tic British Government to flood the market’with tho imported frozen neat, which they had purchased and paid for against tho Homo meat ill U.ese circumstances? ,|t was uumq.lon.4Ule to expect, them to do such a thing. It was, therefore, necessary to approach tho Home Government and place tho position of tho New Zealand producers before them. Ho was not against ‘sending tho Commission Homo, but they should avoid doing what it was the* Government's duty to do. Tho position should ho pointed out to the Imperial Government thalt) they had tho Now Zealand freezing stores full to the doors, and after the producers here had sold their meat at 40 to 50 per cent, below what they had paid to other countries for meat, tho Imperial Government should be asked to relievo this position. IX GREASING IN OUTPUT.

Air Poison made reference to the finding of other markets for their meat. He believed they would have to look elsewhere than in Britain for a market. Tho Home-grown moat was increasing in output, and there wore producing countries ranch nearer Britain which were not yet fully developed. He had some little time ago discussed this question with Sir Joseph AVard, on his return from the Old Country, and Sir Joseph had suggested America* as a. future market, and thought some of their boats would be trading to San Francisco. Air Poison' thought there was a market in Asia for New Zealand lamb. During tho war America had been supplying this market, and had cool stored at many ports right along the whole Asiatic coast as far as Calcutta. The Americans wore supplying this market with Queensland beef, but .Mr Poison thought nothing could compete against New Zealand lamb if if wore introduced to that market. Air J. H., Pcrrctt thought they had done very well under ttyo commanTvier for tho past four or five years, and when tho commandeer was lifted they would find out how well off they had been. They had been getting a good price with no worry. Ho 1 ""as not sick of tho commandeer. Air Perrett did not think there was much .banco of getting a market for then frozen meat in America, where 90 per cent, of tho whole trade was in the hands of tho Alcat Trust, and unless they were prepared > to deal with the Trust, they would not ho able to operate at all. Regarding the Asiatic market, Mr Perrett said they. might sell some meat at tho ports, hut ho doubted if they would get any market inland. The customs there would riot help in that direction. Tho motion was carried. CO-OPERATION SOUGHT.

Messrs Bryce and Conway proposed. That this meeting urge upon our Government the advisaibilitv of sending to 'England at the earliest possible date tlio Commission as at present ■constituted, namely Dr,, Rcnkes, and Messrs Poison, Burrell, and Jones, for the purpose" of assisting the Government to solve the question of the disposal of our meat. This motion, after discussion, was carried without dissent. Air MoEnroy proposed that a deputation, consisting of Alossrs Bryce, Perrett, and Atkinson, proceed to Wellington and wait on the Prime Alinister and place the resolutions passed at the meeting before him.—Carried. It was decided to forward, file resolutions to all County ■ Connells, Chambers of Commerce, Farmers’ Unions, and A. and P. Associations, asking for their support.