POLITICAL NOTES.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16821, 29 May 1919, Page 7

POLITICAL NOTES.

(SHIPPING AND MEAT TRUSTS * REMARKS BY MINISTERS. (Per Press Associafciou). WELLINGTON, May 28. Numerous .matters arising ."out of the remits passed by tiie conference of tile AYellingtou JAjvmual Jj'armers' Union were discussed Willi the Hon. W JJ. S. Mac Donald and JJ. jj.. outline by delegates to the conference this afternoon. The questions dealt with included shipping operations, the meat trust and nxing prices" for butter. _ Mr Mac Donald said that with regard to the question of insulated shipping he did not think the Government had left anything undone in this respect. Constant representations had been made to Sir Joseph "Ward urging that "more shipping siiouJd he .plated at the disposal of New Zealand. Every effort had been made to influence the minds of the Imperial. authorities that the position was urgent so far as K the dominion was concerned. The president, Mr ! G/L. Marshall: Is 'it not a fact that the Meat Trust has had iuiiifences! at work to divert some of the ships that should have come here?

The Minister replied that he had been advised from England' that the influence of the Trust had no such. effect's at all. The same question had occurred to him "after" the Act of last session had been passed, and it was for that reason lie had had inquiries made. In the Old Country the Trust was not able to interfere with the shipping position at/ all. : : . ■

In respect to the operations of tha Meat Trust, Mr Mac Donald said an. export license was not needed this year, as the companies were selling meat to the New Zealand Government, which, obtained supplies for the Home Government. To him that appeared, to be a weakness, but it was in accordance with the legislation passed last year. Of course farmers could help the Government in the matter if thev refused to sell meat to the Trust. However, the position liad not been so severe during the war, as the Imperial Government had been purchasing all supplies of meat in the dominion, and had even had to obtain supplies from the Meat Trust itself. At the same time the general position was serious and he was strongly of opinion that before the meat contract with the Imperial authorities ceased a strong Commission should be sent Home from New. Zealand to inquire into the whole question ; hut they would have to await the arrival of the two leaders from the Old Country before anything could be done. Personally he believed the Government would have to send agents abroad to look after the interests of the producers of the country. He 'hoped that Dr. Eeakes would he ahle to go Home within the next, few months to go into the whole position. Tile Conference had suggested that the names of representatives of the Meat Trust should be published, and he could not see any reason why that should not be done.

_ Mr Guthrie said that everything possible was being done to try'to relieve the shipping position. The Government had assured that a fair apportionment of shipping had been allocated; ta New Zealand compared with Australia. No doubt the Dominion had been overshadowed by the name Australasia, a' proper distinction not having been made! between the two conn.t-ries of Australia! and New Zealand. Had it not been for strikfs and epidemics, more sbips would! hare been available for loading in NewZealand. At tlie present time baJf the? season's output of cheese, amounting to 447.000 crates, was in store. Wifcjj regard to hutb-r they hadfiothing to? fear, and the same could be said regarding wool. They could get plenty of space for th' 3 shipment of wool. <■