COMMANDEERED MEAT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 828, 5 October 1916, Page 9

COMMANDEERED MEAT.

DISPOSAL OF THE SURPLUS.

CANTERBURY FARMERS' PROTEST.

There was a large and representative attendance of farmers at the meeting held yesterday afternoon, called at the instance of Messrs W. F. Parkinson and G. D. Greenwood, to discuss matters in connection with the commandeering of New Zealand meat by the Imperial authorities; to frame a resolution having for its effect an equitable arrangement in connection with the disposal of meat not required for the use of troops and to urge that producers have representation on the committee which has to do with the fixing of prices. Mr W. F. Parkinson, president of the Sheepowners' Union, presided, and briefly outlined the purposes for which the meeting had been called. Mr G. D. Greenwood, who was called upon to move the main resolution, said that the honour of doing so had probably fallen to him because of his having been the first to call attention to the unfair methods that were being employed in connection with the sale of surplus commandeered meat. He was sure that no farmer would object to war profits or blood money being made at his expense if they were, devoted to war-winning purposes.—(Hear, hear.) The farmers of New Zealand were prepared to back up the Imperial Government in every possible way, but they did not think that they were getting a fair deal from the London authorities. Understanding that all meat commandeered was to be used for the troops, the farmers of the Dominion had willingly submilled to the commandeering proposals. It had been found, however, that all the lamb and a goodly part of the mutton sent from this country last year had not been used by the troops at all, but had been disposed of with the ostensible purpose of keeping down the price of meat in the English market in order, it was said, that the British consumer might benefit. The Dominion's meat producers had entered a protest which, already, had borne some fruit. The Prime Minister had acknowledged to the sheepowners' deputation that a great injustice had been done, and it was thought that, if the resolution which he was about to propose were sent to Mr Massey, the Prime Minister would see to it that a more equitable arrangement would be made. An advance in prices of Id a lb, as was suggested, would mean on 3,800,000 lambs and 3,000,000 sheep annually exported from this country an additional £1,325,000 to New Zealand farmers. If this amount were put into the farmers' pockets and by them subscribed to patriotic funds it would provide necessities and luxuries for our boys at the front, and still leave a good balance for distribution amongst the dependents of those that had fallen for their country. It was the farmer's bounden duty to see that these people did not suffer because those upon whom they depended had gone forth to fight the Empire's battles.— (Hear, hear.) Possibly it was in anticipation of the farmers' protest thai Sir Thos. Mackenzie had issued his cabled explanation of last week, with reference io the disposal of surplus meal in London. If the agitation had effected nothing else it had called the attention of the High Commissioner and the powers that be to the abuses that had been going on. But it had done more. He understood thai an advance on the price given for commandeered meat was probable. To Mr Geo. Willy, M.P., were thanks due for being the first man to lake the mailer up in Parliament. A good deal had been said recently about the commencing of operations in New Zealand by a large firm of American meat packers. He was not at all sure whether this was the first time thai American buyers had operated in the Dominion. There was no doubt that, at first, competition would mean increased prices for the grower; but what would be the ultimate result? He would ask farm-

ers to pause and consider whether it was worse to accept an immediate benefit at the expense of introducing an octopus which raighi eventually so extend its tentacles as to rob farmers of a free market. He woidd appeal to farmers to remain loyal to those who had their interests at heart and were using their influence to place our produce on the markets untrammelled and to the best advantage.

Mr Greenwood then moved the following resolution:—"That this representative meeting of North Canterbury sheepfarmers, while offering no objection to the commandeering of meat for the purpose of feeding the troops, is firmly convinced that its handling opens the way to enormous profits being made bv speculators; they feel that, while the sale of British and foreign meat is untrammelled, the New Zealand fanners' interests have been grossly neglected. They therefore recommend that in any new contract with the Imperial Government an advance of not less than Id per lb be paid for all meat commandeered for Imperial purposes, and that unless the Imperial Government can assure the producers of the Dominion that it is in a position to exercise control over all imported meat, the surplus should be placed on the market for open competition." In seconding the motion Mr Coop said that the farmers were not asking for anything to which they were not entitled. All they wanted was a fair deal. The Dominion had lost £3,000,000 in connection with its meat disposal. This, if it had been put aside, would have made a nice fund for our soldiers.

Mr Dcvereaux thought that, when i an increase in price was being ask- j ed for, consideration should he giv-! en to the fact that Canterbury lamb and mutton always commanded a I higher price in the open market than did any other sorts.

Mr David Jones (president of the Farmers' Union) at whose suggestion the latter portion of the motion was added, traced the steps taken by the Farmers' Union to bring about a redress of existing grievances. In framing any resolution the meeting should state definitely what it required. The producers of the Dominion had been mercilessly plundered by the London speculators. The Prime Minister should get an assurance from the British Government that this plundering would he brought to an end. As an alternative New Zealand farmers should be given the same rights as the Argentine producers and be allowed to place their surplus meat in open competition with other countries on the London market. (Applause). Mr J. Macdonald (Southland) was of the opinion that our meat should be allowed to take its chances on the open market, just as Home-grown meal did. The agreement fixing the prices had been made in New Zealand, and he saw no reason why Mr Massey should have to go to England to settle the matter.

Mr O'Halloran pointed out that the expenses entailed on farms where fat lambs were raised had increased from 50 to 200 per cent. Mr Geo. Gardner expressed the opinion that there was more at the root of the trouble than most people realised. Foreign linns had been placed in a position to handle the world's meat supply, and these firms controlled our produce. A stipulation should be made that not one pound of New Zealand meat should be handled by these foreigners. Our enemies were operating in many of these so-called neutral countries—one

had only (o look at the names of shareholders of some big American company to assure himself of that. It was ridiculous and absurd to think that while our hoys were risking and laying down their lives we should allow these foreigners to fleece us to the tune of the cost of battleships. Worse than all, when the war was over they would be in possession of our potential markets. We would have beaten them with bullets and bayonets only to find that they would be able to knock us down with carcases of mutton and lamb.

After further discussion the motion was carried unanimously and amidst applause. On the motion of Mr D. Jones it was decided that the provisions of the resolution should apply only to meat killed after the date of the next agreement with the Imperial authorities.

It was also decided, on the motion of Mr Geo. Gardner, that representatives of Dominion producers should sit on all boards, committees, and conferences which had to do with the fixing of charges for produce, freights, and so on. Mr T. S. Bourn (president of the Chamber of Commerce) suggested a short resolution expressing alarm at Sir Thomas Mackenzie's explanation and asking the Prime Minister to obtain an assurance from the Imperial authorities that the interests of New Zealand producers be adequately safeguarded. This resolution was carried, and the meeting adjourned.