THE MEAT POOL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18448, 9 January 1922, Page 3

THE MEAT POOL.

OPPOSING INTERESTS HOSTILITY.

CONDEMNED "BY MR NOSWORTHYi GOVERNMENT'S ACTION DEFENDED.' (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, January 7. To an interviewer to-day the Hon. W. Nosworthy, Minister of Agriculture, said: “It is regrettable 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 £6O and £IOO per day, is apparently being spent in hostile propaganda throughout the dominion, and while no doubt from their point of view this action may be considered justifiable in the protection of their interests, there can be no defence whatever for the circulation of incorrect information, the. object of which oan be only to mislead or predispose the minds of producers before their representatives have met to hear the i’cheme outlined by promoters. The country £an be congratulated on the ’ attitude adopted by the press, which will permit auoh propaganda to occupy its columns only as advertisement matter, which' enables readers better to judge of its specious nature. ' I cannot deal in detail with the wrong 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 producers to help themselves, and to 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.”

MEAT EXPORT STATISTICS. THE DEPARTMENTS FIGURES. CRITICISED BY EXPORTERS' ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, January 7. The Association of Meat and Produce Exporters of New Zealand state that the Minister of Agriculture's figures showing l , the relationship between tie Now Zealand output of meat and the British consumption are clouding the issue when they include the 1920 figures as a . basis of comparison. exports were 50 per cent, in excess of the normal output, as tho 1920 figures included / accumulations held over in store from the previous year. Furthermore, it should be known that in 1920 the production of meat in the United Kingdom was suffering from a , depletion of live stock, due to war-time conditions. This decrease in Great Britain's home production amounted to about 50 per cent., and aa it must be expected to recover rapidly the statement that the ; New Zealand output is equivalent to 5 per cent, of the Home consumption presents a truer picture of <ihe general position than the figures selected by the Department of Agriculture. In any case, whichever figures aie taken, the quantity is so small that the contention that the pooling scheme could not hold up prices is 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- , SIR T. MACKENZDjTS VIEWS. GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE A FAIR FIELD. PRODUCERS* SCHEME CRITICISED. (Pas Ukitbd Pbess Association.) DANNEVTRKE. January 7. In an address under the auspices of the Southern Hawke's Bay Farmers' Union, on the marketing of primary products at Home, Sir Thomas , Mackenzie mentioned the proposed meat pcol. He' had declined an invitation to attend,the farmers' meeting to consider the pool- proposals, and explained that, as i this was a matter which closely concerned the producers, it would have been inadvisable for him'to be present. Mr Massey should have a fair field to develop his scheme. Replying to a question, ha said that personally he would prefer the dominion's establishing its own market; but they would be' up against stiff opposition, entailing enormous expenditure. To run meat shops successfully they would require to get control of a considerable quantity of chilled beef, and Argentina would heat them in tliis connection. He was not trying to throw cold water on the producers' scheme. He was not antagonistic, but merely wanted to explain' the position.