AND THE COMMANDEER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10509, 10 February 1920, Page 6

AND THE COMMANDEER

SERIOUS POSITION PREDICTED. DRASTIC ACTION URGED. TEE. FRESS ASSOCIATION. FEILDING, February 9. In connection with the meat commandeer question the Feilding Farmers' freezing Company has received the following letter from Gordon Woodroffe and Company, of Christehurch: — DRASTIC ACTION NECESSARY. "Wo have received a cable from London to tho effect that they fear New Zealand shippers will have to face a serious proposition after the end of tho present term of tho purchase, by the Imperial Government, of meat, unless drastio action is taken to clear the present glut of imported meat an England and to lift the Government-owned stocks in the Dominion. Tho stores at Home axe full and discharges are delayed. Arrivals are 50 per cent, over consumption. Our people ask, 'Can the Dominion Government bring pressure upon the Imperial Government to lower the price to a level which will stimulate the consumption and so tend to relieve the glut.' THE SITUATION FORESEEN-.

"The probability of the situation, such as now exists, was foreseen by those well acquainted with the meat trade at Home, some months ago, but apparently their efforts .to 'influence cue imperial Government were unsuccessful. They are now pointing out to the New Zealand shippers the, appre* hensions, expressed some time ago, being realised, and exporters of meat from the Dominion should take concerted action, through the Government, to bring about such a procedure at Home as well as do whatever is possible to protect their legitimate interests in respect to the future, when the Imperial Government ceases to take over the meat at the works." AN AGENT'S ADVICE.

The Feilding Company also received a letter from its Home agents stating that the only remedy is to put tho stored meat on the market and get rid of 'it at selling prices though it may cause a glut.