THE MEAT POOL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18465, 28 January 1922, Page 14

THE MEAT POOL

ITS EXISTENCE JUSTIFIED. WHAT AMERICA IS DOING. (From Our Own Correspondent.) f( ' WELLINGTON, January 27. ‘I say that as far as it lias gone tho meat pool has quite justified its existence,” said the Prime Minister in the House of Representatives to-.day in reply to a question by Mr J. Edie (Brucp), The newspapers, ho added, were recording almost daily advances in the prices of New Zealand produce, and he -believed that this fact was due in part to the organisation that was being arranged by the New Zealand farmers. A very large proportion of the increase was due. to the meat pod.—(Hear, hear.) A Member; What-about wool? Mr Massey replied that he had been able to predict'an advance in the price of wool after visiting Bradford last year. Mr Witty (Riocarton): What about butter? Mr Massey said he was not sure that the pool had not had an effect upon the price of butter. The action that had been contemplated by tho Governments of New Zealand and Australia certainly had had a good deal, to do with what had happened in connection with the accumulated butter. Tho legislation that would be required for tho establishment of the meat pool had not yet been drafted, and he did not think that it wouM be ready before the'middle of next week, but it certainly would-come forward, and it, would not be delayed very long since tho end of tho session was approaching. He thought that the session could bo completed in 10 days unless there was unnecessary delay or obstruction. Mr I. A. Nash (Palmerston North) drew the attention of the Prime Minister to a cablegram reporting that President Harding was recommending tho extension of the farmers’ co-operative marketing organisation in tho United Stafes, the provision of greater working capital for farmers, and the adoption of the measures to prevent violent price fluctuations. The President had said that if the nation failed to aid the farmers it would precipitate a disaster that would effect every industrial and commercial activity. Mr Massey said that he had read the, cablegram with a groat deal of interest. It showed that the Americans were moving on the lines that New Zealand was following. Tho first part of the message read like n description of tho policy underlying the formation of tho meat pool in this country. He did not know if America was giving New Zealand a lead or New Zealand waf* giving America a lead. In any case ho could commend President Harding’s words to the consideration of tho dominion and particularly to tbe consideration of the people who were in tho habit of saying that instead of aiding tho farmers the Governmont should make their position more difficult by means of extra taxation. The Prime Minister mentioned later that he hod received a cablegram from the High Commissioner reporting that tho storage charges on frozen meat at Liverpool had been reduced by 2s per ton per month from January 1. Every reduction of this kind was important to the dominion at the present time. Mr Wilford: Liverpool is bidding for business. Mr Massey agreed that this was the case. The communications that Liverpool, Manchester, ■ and Bristol had exchanged with New Zealand had been published in Great Britain. Hg believed that the reduction was attributable to_ the organisation that was being formed in this country.