THE MEAT CONFERENCE.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXI, 11 January 1922, Page 3

THE MEAT CONFERENCE.

YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS. FULLER PARTICULARS Pei- Press Association —Copyright. The following is a full report of the Meat Pool Conference. Mr Massey referred to the economies which should be made in the loading costs. Arrangements ought to be made for a ship to obtain her cargo at two, certainly at no more than three, ports. There were 30 or 40 ships lying idle in Neiw Zealand. They should be insulated and used to carry meat from the smaller to the larger ports. Improvements had been made since the scheme had been under discussion. He had received a cable from the High Commissioner advising that the glut in London men stores was now ended, and all meat ships were now being discharged. The Port of London authority gave an assurance that a glut was unlikely to occur again. Other improvements were increases in the price of meat and the reduction of freezing costs. Offers of assistance had been received from Hull and Manchester, including offers to finance advances on shipments to Manchester. There-was nothing socialistic in the proposals, which were co-opera-tive. It was the duty of the Government to assist industries on which prosperity depended. New Zealand meat should be better advertised in English markets. There should be mare attention paid to grading, especially to keep inferior meat off the market. Britain had abandoned the old Free Trade policy, and now gave preference to the products of the British Dominions. He believed it would be of advantage to Britain to give a small preference on meat. If the conference gave a general approval to what had been done so far, a committee would be set up, and representatives of freezing companies invited to meet them. The freezing companies were not all antagonistic, and their interests were identical with the producers. He emphasised the main points of the scheme as a producers’ organisation, with Boards in New Zealand and London to attend specially to grading, finance, and the prevention of oversupply at the other end. PRIME MINISTER HECKLED. MUCH INFORMATION ELICITED. At the conclusion of Mr Massey’s speech, Mr J. C. N. Grigg asked what forju the compulsory pool was going to take. Another delegate asked how was it possible to have grading with so many different types of sheep? The Prime Minister said that each district would be graded according to its class, and there would be no such thing as Auckland coming into contact with Canterbury. In meat supplies there was no intention of breaking any contracts. To Mr Grigg Mr Massey said that ft was intended that the pool should Ire compulsory. He doubted whethet it would be possible to make it compulsory during the present season. To Mr Ewen Campbell, the Prime Minister said chat it would be necessary to put the Government brand on the meat. To Mr H. D. Acland, the Prime Minister explained the scheme in clearer outline. There was no question of party politics in the matter. The board at Shis end would deal with grading, shipping and handling, and the board at the other end would look after the market. It was the greatest nonsense in the world to say that New Zealand moat was only a drop in the bucket. New Zealand exported morr mutton and lamb than any other country in the world. In eight years New Zealand sent , nearly 20,000,000 careases out of 45,000,000 ..imported into Great Britain. Mr G. V. Pearse raised another question regarding the grading. Was it proposed to do away with all the present brands ? The Hon W. Nosworthy said that it was never intended to do away with brands. All the present brands would be retained. The promoters of the pool would see that all the meat was graded on the highest standard and the good business methods would not be interfered with. PRODUCERS SELECT THE BOARD. In reply to a, question regarding the personnel of the board Mr Massey announced that that was a matter for the producers to decide. (Applause). The producers would select the board. (Hear, hear). It was to be a Government board, they could lie quite sure on that point. Mr Massey’s statement was apparently received with great satisfaction from the producers. Replying to questions, Mr Massey said each district would be graded according to the class of meat produced. Each freezing works would have its own subsidiary pool. The pool could not be satisfactory unless compulsory, butt it was a matter for settlement by the committee whether the scheme would go that far this season, and whether compulsory powers would need to be exer-

cised. Established brands would not be interfered with.

Mi- D. Jones, ALP., chairman of the Parliamentary Committee, said there were a number of points upon which they were in agreement with the freezing and shipping companies. He instanced the elimination of marks covering small lots, and the prevention of overloading the London market, and overshipment, front New Zealand. It was recognised by all parties interested that some control was essential. AFFIRMATIVE MOTION. Mr T. D. Duncan (Taieri) moved—- “ That this meeting of producers recognises the necesity of a national scheme for marketing New Zealand meat, and supports the principle of the compulsory pool: That a Committee be appointed to investigate the possibilities and advisability of bringing the scheme either wholly or partly into operation during the present season.” Air Perry (Masterton) seconded the motion. He referred to the rapid fall in prices a few months ago as compared with the present rise. It looked to him as if prices had been artificially dropped, but the people responsible had evidently thought it wiser to raise them again. There were risks to be run, continued Mr Perry, but a capable Board would be able to handle the matter carefully. On the question of lightweight lamb and mutton, Mr Perry said that he thought there was something behind the rising or prices recently for heavier weights. Mr W. V. Pearse challenged the statement that the market had been “rigged.” The glut was due to the lack of organisation among the freezing companies. Mr Pearse said that there had been some question of the regulation of prices, and they must proceed very carefully. The lack or disinterested advice as to the meat market was another reason for the establishment of a pool. At the present time the producers had nobody to advise them, arrd if they had a board of three men in London, thousands of pounds might be saved weekly. Air Massey, in reply to a question said stock agents and exporters would (re invited to confer with the Producers’ Committee. They were satisfied with the existing channels of distribution. AN AMENDMENT. Mr Gascoinge (Hawke’s Bay) moved and Mr J. C. N. Grigg (Canterbury) seconded the amendment: —“That this meeting, while, willing to assist the Government in every way in this matter, is nor in favour of compulsion.” Mr Grigg said a half baked scheme was no good. The present-day rise in prices was a foregone conclusion. A voice • Did your companies tell the farmer that? (Laughter). Air Grigg said there was not enough time to get things ‘ in working order this season. All- Massey explained that he accepted. the amendment because it dealt only with the compulsory principle of the pool proposal, which, of course, was an important part of the scheme. Air Bunfield (Waikato) expressed regret that the proposal did not go half far enough, and disappointment that the business was- not proposed to be handled by the producers themselves. It was still to be handled by the very men who had landed the farmer in the present predicament. He hoped the producers would not stop half way in their proposals. Air Grigg considered that there was evidence that the scheme, as originally proposed, was to be modified. (Voices, “No”). It was uncertain what return the producers would secure if they embarked upon a scheme which he considered was “half baked,” and therefore had no chance of success. He doubted whether it would be possible to start a scheme successfully at the present stage of the season. Particular attention should lie devoted to considering the powers of the Board of Control. FURTHER AMENDMENTS. Air Tripp (Canterbury) gave notice of a further amendment-“ That a Committee should investigate and report, in six months.” This was greeted with marked disapproval. Sir Walter Buchanan gave notice of a further amendment: “That a committee should be appointed to bring the scheme either wholly or partly into operation this season.” On being put to the vote Air Gascoigne’s amendment was defeated on the voices by an overwhelming majority. Sir Walter Buchanan’s amendment was accepted by the mover as the prinAfter a lengthy discussion the motion moved by Mr Duncan was carried. COMMITTEE SET UP. In the evening the following committee of fourteen was appointed to act in conjunction with the Parliamentary Committee, in appointing the New Zealand and London Boards to arrange

the inception of the scheme. North Island: Messrs W. J. Polson, J. S. Jessop, Wm. Perry, T. A. Duncan, H. B. Williams, George Pearse, A. E. Harding. South Island: Messrs J. Begg, A. J. Murray, J. C. N. Grigg, E. Bow-man, J. O. Coop, D. G. Wright, E. P. Burbury. A resolution moved by the Hon. W. D. Lysnar, suggesting a levy of 5 per cent. o*n advances till each had paid ,£lO for every 250 sheep owned, according to the official sheep list, to finance the pool wa ? lost by an overwhelming majority.

After considerable discussion a motion by Mr Mathieson that if the Government offers financial guarantee, security should be given the Government by the producers benefiting was lost, the matter of finance being left to the joint,committees. Mr Jones moved, that as this meeting recommends that the representatives present wait upon the freezing companies of their respective districts requesting them to voluntarily join the pool and make arrangements accordingly, they must, he stated, make it very clear that the interests of freezing companies w-ould be considered. After a lengthy discussion Mr Anderson objected that the motion simply stultified the resolution favouring a compulsory pool. Mr Jones explained that he meant them to ask farmers and freezing companies of their districts to join the pool, voluntarily at once, without waiting two or three weeks for compulsory legislation. The motion was carried with a few dissentients. Enthusiastic votes of thanks were accorded Mr Alassey, the Government Advisory Committee, and the Minister of Agriculture. The conference closed with the announcement that the new- committee would meet on AVednesday morning.