FROZEN MEAT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 792, 24 August 1916, Page 2

FROZEN MEAT.

FARMERS’ UNION DISCUSSION. IMMEDIATE ACTION TO BE TAKEN. At Hit' mooting of the executive of the North Canterbury Farmers’ Union yesterday Mr Goo. Gardner's motion, urging the Government to determine the eonlrael with the Imperial authorities in regard to the purchase of New Zealand meat, was further discussed.

Mr O'lTallnran moved as an amendment:—"That the executive of I lit

North Canterbury Farmers' Union rcquesl the Government to determine the present contract relating to mullon-and lamb, and that should a*.new contract be entered into the Farmers' Union be consulted." This was not seconded. Mr Newton moved as an amendment..: —"That the Government be urged to cancel the present meal, mutton, and lamb contract and that lamb be exempted from future contracts should the British Government still find it necessary lo commandeer meal and mutton. Further, that in the farming of any new contract the producers be represented in the negotiations." 'Mr O'Halloran seconded Ihe amendment.

Mr Culkn pointed out Ihat if lamb were freed for the open market the producer would be faced with ihe shipping difficulty. No insulated space would be available for lamb.

Mr Gardner: Did Mr Hughes have any difficulty in getting ships for his wheat?

Mr Cullen: No, but he had his £22.000.000 to work on. Mr W. T. Till expressed Ihe opinion that ciwc should be exercised as the shipping business was beyond the producer's control. Four million lambs in New Zealand would be profitless unless Ihe shipping space were available for their conveyance to the London market. He suggested that Fie Government should be urged to < all a conference of meat producers and representatives of the Government to go fully into the question of next year's supply-

Mr Evans gave notice to move that a conference be immediately called in accordance with Mr Lill's suggestion, with the Government pastoralists and A. and P. Societies and that the present contract be terminated.

Mr Newton thought that there should be no difficulty in obtaining! shipping for lamb export, as even if the Government didn't want the lamb for the army it wanted it to! feed the population of the United Kingdom. ■'••'-■ \ Mr Gardner, in reply, said that if the amendment were carried into effect the shipping difficulty would surely arise. If things were allowed to go on as a't present: God help New Zealand, as the markets were speedily being captured by the men of the Stars and Stripes, while our men were fighting for their country-

Mr Evans's amendment was carried. It was decided that the resolution be forwarded immediately to the Government and that a telegram be sent at once to the Sheep Owners' Conference pointing out the executive's views. It was also decided heartily to thank Mr Gardner for bringing the matter up and for his exhaustive explanation of it. . Messrs Jones, Newton, Gardner, Leadlcy, and Evans were appointed representatives of the executive at the proposed conference, in case this conference were held prior to the next meeting.

DISCREPANCY IN PRICES.

DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER.

A suggestion that the Beef Trust is benefiting by the negotiations between the Imperial and New Zealand Governments in regard to the supply of beef for army purposes was made by a deputation representing the ;sheepfarmers of the Dominion, .vhich 'waited on the Prime Minister (Pd. Hon. W. P. Massey) to-day. The deputation, which was introduced by Mr H. D. Acland, represented the New Zealand Sheepowners' Federation.

INTO WHOSE POCKETS? Mr G. D. Greenwood (South Island) said in! the newspapers the price of Canterbury lamb was quoted at 1/2'., while jthe producer was receiving from jthe Government sid per lb. The difference went into the pockets of someone. The Board of Control consisted of Sir Thomas Mackenzie, Sir Thomas Robinson, and Mr Montagu Nelson, and producers thought it was probable that Sir Thomas Mackenzie was outvoted on questions affecting their interests. Although no information had come before him, it was thought that the discrepancy was 12/0 to 13/- a head on New Zealand lamb.

Mr Massey (laughingly): It's not very difficult to upset that calculation.

ARGENTINE COMPETITION. Replying to a point raised by-Mr Greenwood, Mil Massey staled Ibat the Imperial Government could not impound Argentine meal. It had contracts for the supply of meals for the troops of Hie Allies, but one of the conditions of the contract was that the Argentine should have the right to place any surplus quantities of meal on the open market. A Member of the deputation: We should be placed in the same position. Mr Massey: They have a tremendous advantage. There is no (pieslion about il. Mr Acland referred lo the fact that Mr Acland referred lo the fact that in the newspapers New Zealand meat was quoted at Bid and Argentine al lid. New Zealand meal was not being sold al 2d a lb lower than Argentine. Who was getting that

difference? The producers believed it was going to the Meal Trust.

Mr Masscy: Have you any reason to believe thai it is going to the Meal Trust? Mr Acland.: Where else ran it Be going? PRIME MINISTER'S REPLY.

In replying, Mr Masscy sajd thai in certain quarters there was a feeling of uneasiness in regard to what was going on in the meal trade, and what Was happening to the surplus meal after i! arrived in London, lie had been watching very closely since the scheme was brought into operation in March of last year, and the Government had done everything it possibly could, lie, as a Minister of the Crown, not as a producer, believed that the producers bad a grievance. He believed the grievance dated from January of this year. Cp to that lime he was satislied with the actions of the Imperial Board of Trade, but since then there had been a weakness, and he had previously said so. lie would look into the whole mailer when he was in London, and he intended if possible to gel to the bottom if it. (Hear, hear). He had reason to believe he would get all the assistance he required, and he hoped to be able lo satisfactorily explain to the producers what was going on, and, if possible, put them on a better fooling, lie read a message from Mr Bonar Law in which it was staled that many hundreds of small shopkeepers had been compelled to close their shops, and that the price of handling had increased enormously. There was, said the communication, no means of fixing the price of cattle sold by the Home producer in the open market or compelling foreign countries to send their meat lo England. No American companies could act as selling agents, and, as distributors, could only purchase on the same terms as anyone else. The Prime Minister then read another message (one he had cabled Home) which covered all the points raised by the deputation, and satisfaction was expressed at its contents. With regard to the s§d paid to the producers for lamb and the price of l/2i quoted at Home, there was no doubt that there was a very considerable discrepancy. He believed that under existing circumstances it cost not less than 25tl lo land New Zealand meat, including storage, commission, and everything else.

A DISCREPANCY SOMEWHERE

After pointing out that the storage charges were very heavy at both ends, Mr Massey said that between the 8Id>"(5&d and 2sd added) and ■life ■ price-, mentioned that day there .Was ft considerable discrepancy, and he believed the producers had reason for dissatisfaction. He was un able to understand why certain companies were able to pay more for lamb than the Imperial authorities. They could not get an extra price for their beef, because it was all handed over at one price to the Imperial Government. He did not think one pound of beef had been placed on the public market. If so, it was of inferior quality. The Imperial Government wanted more beef than it could get for the troops. He did not think that any lowering in price would affect the market after the war. As to the suggestions that some of the members of the Imperial Board were acting in their own interests, he had made inquiries, and the reply had always been in the negative. There was nothing in (lie suggestion that the wool would be commandeered. The present arrangement was that the Imperial Government was to take over the meal for three month:; after the close of' the war, but he had no doubt that there would be little difficulty in making an arrangement whereby it would take over the whole of the meat then in store, and thus permit of a fresh start being made.