FARMERS’ COMPLAINTS

Southland Times, Issue 18623, 22 August 1919, Page 5

FARMERS’ COMPLAINTS

MEAT, WOOL AND HIDES. (Per United Press Association.) PALMERSTON NORTH, August 21. A meeting of the Farmers’ Union, A. and P. Association, and Farmers' Freezing Co. was held here to-day and a resolution, which led to a lengthy debate and was finally rejected, read: “That this meeting favours the extension of the meat commandeer until June 20, 1921, the price to be on a parity with other prices for frozen meat on the English market, with a guarantee that the freezing stores will be clear within five months after that date.” It was decided on the motion of Mr Poison (Wanganui) that a committee should be set up to frame a report to be submitted to the Farmers’ Unions, A. and P. Associations and associated freezing companies in the Dominion for their endorsement within 14 days and in the event of such endorsement being generally given, the committee have power to recommend that a Government Commission be sent Home at the Dominion’s expense. It was further decided :“That the Government be requested to cable the High Commissioner protesting most strongly against New Zealand meat being pooled with American meat for sale and that the High Commissioner be instructed to take vigorous action to stop the practice, and also that the High Commissioner he asked to cable out the amount of New Zealand frozen meat in stores in England at the present time.” At a subsequent meeting of the provincial executive of the Farmers' Union the matter of the wool commandeer was discussed and the following resolution was passed: “That seeing that the Government has commandeered all wool, any individual who holds his wool for the sake of high profits should not be allowed to ship his wool until all the stores in New Zealand are first cleared of produce of every description and that the Government be requested to advise the Farmers’ Union fully as to the reason for the embargo on hides and as to who makes the profits on hides taken under the embargo.”