AN EXPERIMENT.

Thames Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15127, 18 February 1922, Page 4

AN EXPERIMENT.

It is disquieting to find that the Chambers of Commerce in each of the four chief centres of the Dominion have protested against the principle underlying the Meat Export Control Bill. Approaching the matter from quite another angle the firms engaged in the meat trade have entered their protest, and the Sheepowners’ Federation has not shown any enthusiasm for the scheme. It remains to be seen if the proposal can be given effect to and what will be the result if the meat producers’ output is “commandeered,” as some business men term the methods suggested. The desirability, or otherwise, of the Government guaranteeing any such undertaking without retaining absolute control is the point that has been strongly attacked by business men, and there can be no doubt that the business section of the community as a whole does not look upon the meat pool with any favour. And now an agitation is on foot to form a butter and cheese pool. The matter will come before the provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union at its next meeting, and it will be placed before the producers at an early date. The Dominion president of the union is an advocate of a daily produce pool. Recently, at Pirongia, Mr Sinclair stated that New Zealand’s total exports only amounted to about six weeks’ supply for Great Britain so that, as in the meat market, we are not in a position to influence the position much either way. But, investigation may show that the principle of co-oper-ation may be carried further than at present and that, by more expeditious methods, the cost of placing the produce on the market may be reduced. Any reduction in the cost of producti&n and of marketing our butter or cheese will benefit the producer immediately., In this connection Mr Goodfellow, on his return, should be able to advise as to the actual position in, the London market. In one respect the dairy industry differs from the meat trade. It lies in the hands of the farmers. Co-operative companies produce the great bulk of the butter and cheese exported from New Zealand. Some companies sell their output ex factory, but many consign and it may be here that joint action may* yield profitable results. But it will be for the advocates of uool to show clearly how any measure of compulsion can offer better prospects than cordial voluntary-co-operation.