MEAT COMMANDEER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10508, 9 February 1920, Page 6

MEAT COMMANDEER

AND IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT. LETTER FROM MR H. BEAUCHAMP, (To tho Editor, “N.Z. Times.”) Sir, —Referring to tho interview. 1 had on Thursday last with a representative of your paper, in the course of my remarks relating to the early cessation of the commandeer of meat, 1 said:—

‘'All of tliis (meat) will have to bo sold by the Imperial Government before the meat purchased by the companies in this country can be transported and marketed, for preference will bo given to the Imperiallyowned meat in the carriage by the shipping companies.” In above connection, I have just received «. letter from the chairman of the Now Zealand Overseas Ship-own-ers’ Committee, copy of which I append. and I would ask you to be good enough to publish same in full. Jn that letter you will no|te Mr Findlay points out that, in regard to transportation, his committee will be governed by instructions from the Imperial Government, which, up to date, has given no indication as to its intention- in the matter. is, of course, only right that expression should bo given to the views of the shipping committee, but personally, I think it more probable that preference, ns heretofore, will bo accorded to the Imperial Government in the carriage of meat purchased by it.

HAROLD BEAUCHAMP, Wellington, February 7th. 1020.

To Harold Beauchamp, Esq., Wellington. Dear Sir,—ln your capacity of chairman of the Bank of New Zealand, as reported in to-day's issue of the “Times,” under tho heading of “Financial Position,” you are reported as stating . ‘T estimate that when the commandeer ceases there will bo in store in Now r Zealand and Groat Britain, and in transit, something like tho equivalent of six million sixty-pound carcases of mutton. All of this will havo to Lo sold by tho Imperial Government before the meat purchased by tho companies in this country can bo transported and marketed; for preference will be given to the Imperially-owned meat in tho carriage by tho shipping companies.” This committee would, however, point out that in the preference efr otherwise of tho carriage of Imperial Government meat, it will necessarily be governed by instructions from the Imperal Government, which up to this point, has given no indication as to its intention in the matter;

If you nro correctly reported, perhaps you may think it desirable to correct the wrong impression conveyed that preference to Imperial Government meat will be given by tho shipping companies.

NEW ZEALAND OVERSEAS 6HIPOWNWERS’ COMMITTEE, (Signed) JAMES FINDLAY, Chairman. Wellington February 6th, 1920.