FARMERS AND THEIR MEAT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3212, 6 October 1915, Page 19

FARMERS AND THEIR MEAT.

£1,000,000 ALLEGED TO BE UNACCOUNTED FOR,

THE ARMY MEAT SUPPLY QUESTION. DISCUSSED BY SOUTH TARANAKI FARMERS. (Fbom Oub Wanganui Correspondent.) October 2. The question of army meat supplies was discussed at a meeting of the General Committee of the Egmont A. and P. Association on Saturday last. Mr O. Hawken said it would be remembered that last year the British Government, through the New Zealand Government, commandeered meat from the Dominion for the use of the troops, and it appeared that subsequently the authorities found that a portion of the meat bought was not suitable for the army, and it was sold on the London market. The Board of Trade reports showed that the meat sold on the market at an advance of 50 per cent, over last year’s prices. The local farmers would know, if they ran over the figures at which they sold, that they received 10 per cent, more for their meat, which would leave 40 per cent, difference in the advance of the price that was not accounted for Curiously enough, the New Zealand Prime Minister denied that there was any profit made from the meat sold, but that appeared rather a strange statement to him (Mr Hawken), because in following the reports of the High Commissioner he had noticed that the Board of Trade figures and those of the High Commissioner were in agreement. The High Commissioner had this season a peculiar knowledge of the market, because he happened to be one of the gentlemen appointed by the British Government to sell the meat to the British public through the ordinary trade channels. He did not say for one moment that the farmers in Nov,- Zealand received too little for the meat or that they were unwilling to sell it at other ichan a price which would leave a profit, but he thought they should receive credit for the fact that they were supplying at such a low figure. There appeared to be a suspicion among farmers — which was probably unfounded—that this meat passed into the hands of the traders, who made an altogether undue profit out of it. The Prime Minister had remarked that the system had worked smoothly and satisfactorily. Certainly the freezing companies, as was disclosed by some of their balance sheets, had last year made about five or six times their usual profits, and no doubt the system did work very smoothly and satisfactorily for them. Tlie shipping companies, it appeared, were granted a 10-0 per cent, increase in their freights—instead of receiving gd they received over Id—and this would be satisfactory to them, too. If the British Government did that, they treated the shippmg people in a different way from what they did the producers. In war time it was one of the weaknesses that money was apt to disappear in an unaccountable manner. In dealing with supplies for the army the whole matter should be made as widely public as possible, although ho quite agreed that secrecy was necessary when it had reference to the movement of troops. Some of the gravest scandals had been unearthed after countries had been at war, and it was essential that those matters should he given every publicity. In the present case the farmers should try and find out where the difference in the price of the meat sold had gone to He would very much like to move that the association communicate with other farmers* societies in the district, with a view to going into the matter and to find out what had actually happened with regard to last season’s meat, so that proper arrangements could he made for the disposal of the coming season’s supplies. Personally, ho believed it would have been far better had the Government imposed an extra tax upon the meat and given the producers the full value for it. Assuming that the farmers

received 10 per cent, of the increase, the freezing companies 5 per cent., the shipping companies 10 per cent., there would still be 25 per cent, unaccounted for, and that would amount, as far as he could figure it out, to £1,000,0G0. He moved that the secretary write to the Farmers’ Union, kindred A. and P. Associations, farmers’ co-operative societies, and dairy companies, with the view to having the matter gone into. The farmers had practically contributed a million pounds to the war funds, and if this was so, well, they should receive credit for it.

The president (Mr Hamilton) observed tnat they had contributed largely to the middleman.

Mr A. 1. M ills agreed with Mr Hawkcn Prn! e e ma^G . r should bo inquired into, the farmers did not begrudge giving the meat, but ho did not think individual concerns should be making a profit out of them.

Mr Hawkcn said that the past season was over, and the moat had been sold, but he thougiit they should be given credit for the price at which they had sold it. The president considered that there was a flaw somewhere which required to be remedied.

Mr Hawken: It is _ a pretty big flaw "'hen you allow a million to slip away. The motion was seconded by Mr T. A, Vvmks, and carried unanimously. It was considered that further action was necessary, hut it would be advisable to wait and see what support the association received from kindred societies and the com. panics interested.