THE MEAT POOL

Southland Times, Issue 19508, 6 May 1922, Page 5

THE MEAT POOL

PROGRESS AND POLICY STATEMENT BY MR A. HAMILTON MP. Interviewed by a Times reporter on tho progress made by the Meat Producers Board, and the proposed policy, Mr AdanHamilton, M.P., stated that up to date the progress and the results of the Board’s operations had been most satisfactory. ITiere were still a few people who tried to discredit the action of the Government and producers in their endeavour to improve the meat trade, but confidence was gradually being restored amongst those who had viewed the movement as a foolish venture. On the other hand, there were some farmers with advanced, and in some cases ,unsound ideas, who thought that the Board was not proceeding fast enough. The Board had held many meetings at each of which important work had been done. Reductions in shipping, freezing, and other chargee, which were given in the press some days ago, had been obtained, which should mean many thousands of pounds for the producers of the Dominion. But, valuable as all these items might be, they were not the main work of the Board. The mandate from the producers and the Act from the legislators made it clear to the Board that obtaining concessions here and there and improving the trade in certain directions was not the main duty of the Board. It must go further than that. In order to meet any emergency that might arise the Board was losing no time in getting the machinery in working order so that, if necessary, it would be in a position at any time to commence operations on whatever scale might be deemed necessary. At the last meeting of the Board, Mr John Fraser of Hastings, a man with a lifetime’s experience in the meat trade, was appointed general manager at the New Zealand end. Mr Jessep, vice-president of the Board, would proceed next week to London to make recommendations regarding the appointment of a Board to control the London agency. It would also be necessary to appoint a manager at the London end. One of the moot urgent needs of the trade to-day was reliable information and statistics from London, together with sound judgment and advice regarding supply and demand in the world’s markets. This the Board hoped to have available by the beginning of next season. One of the chief matter# to be dealt with in the near future was the making of a new freight contract for the carriage of refrigerated cargo. The present contract runs out in July. The Board hoped that the new contract would be more favourable to the producers than the present one.

Regarding the outlook for the meat trade of New Zealand, Mr Hamilton stated that th® prospects for next season were exceedingly bright, especially for lamb, and his advice to farmers would be that they lay their plans with a view to producing as .many fat lambs as possible.