MARKETING DOMINION PRODUCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16583, 16 November 1921, Page 4

MARKETING DOMINION PRODUCE.

INVESTIGATION TO BE MADE. [From Our Coßßßsroxojcvr.] WELLINGTON, November 15. A meeting of the New Zealand Producers’ Committee was held to-day, and privately discussed with the Minister of Agriculture and the Director of the Department of Agriculture a number of important matters concerning ship- ! ment and marketing of New Zealand i meat in England. The committee was informed that Mr T. R. Lees, head of the New Zealand branch of the Imperial Supplies Department, will shortly K° bo England and will investigate the conditions of the market as affecting New Zealand producers generally. Mr Lees, who was formerly a sheep farmer in the Gisborne district, has h*ad long practical both on the land and in connection with stock agency. He has shown great executive ability in connection with the commandeer administration in New Zealand. It is understood that the producers will also send a representative to England, though a selection has not yet been made. The committee was unable to make progress on the freights question, and it is felt that there will be difficulty in securing further concessions until the matter is reopened on January 1. k BRITISH PREFENCE ON MEAT. [From Our Corrkspowdrnt.] WELLINGTON, November 15. The attention of Mr Massey was called by Mr Field (Otaki) to the suggestion of the Federal Prime Minister that exporters of Australian and New Zealand meat might b© subsidised by the Imperial Government to overcome the objection to the tariff on foreign meat imported into Britain. The member suggested that in view of the perilous position of the meat industry this proposal should be seriously considered. Mr Massey replied that the Federal Prime Minister's suggestions were on lines he had advocated at the Imperial Conference in 1917, when in urging that Imperial preference should be granted by Britain it was pointed out that there was no likelihood of the Imperial Parliament agreeing to taxation on food, thus anything in the wav of Imperial preference would have to be by way of subsidies. Supposing it was agreed by the Imperial Government to contribute a halfpenny per pound towards freight it would mean that New Zealand would have to find a farthing, at a cost of between £300,000 and £400,000. This would mean that the people of New Zealand, through the general benefit which would result, would gain to the extent of about £600,000, of which New Zealand would have to contribute £300.000. il But,” added Mr Massey. “ I am not prepared to recommend an appropriation of £300,000 for the purpose ni? present, because I shall not he able to do anything until we get financial conditions back to normal. I will get into communication with the Imperial Government and see if they are prepared to meet us, and what they are prepared to do.” MEAT SUPPLIES FOR THE ARMY By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. United Service. LONDON, November 14. The War Office is in sympathy with the proposal by Mr Hughes, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, that larger meat supx>lies should be obtained for the army from the dominions. It is pointed out that at present demands are limited by terms of existing contracts made during the war. Inquiries already are afoot to discover whether there are any means by which present arrangements may be modified in the direction of increased dealings with Australia and Now Zealand.