THE MEAT POOL.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXI, 12 January 1922, Page 7

THE MEAT POOL.

SHEEP OWNERS’ POSITION. POSTAL BALLOT SUGGESTED. Press Assn—By Tel.—Copyright. WELLINGTON, January 11. Mr H. D. Aeland, president of the Sheep Owners’ Federation made the following statement to-day. “There appears to be considerable misapprehensions as to the attitude oi the New Zealand Sheep Owners’ Federation at yesterday’s conference. We took the view that it was not right for the conference to give a blank cheque to any committee to deal with the business of sheepfarmers. We were asked yesterday to hand over the whole conduct of our meat trade to a committee without re. oeiving any powers of subsequent criticism or the revision of the scheme. The conference affirmed the principle of compulsion without knowing to What lengths such compulsion was to be carried. “We oppose any scheme which involves injustice to other sections of the community carrying on business in New Zealand. Under the law at present, 80 per cent, of New Zealand’s meat leaves the country as the property of the exporter. The conference was mainly destructive with reference to thia aspect of the trade. “The utterances of the members of Parliament in the afternoon and evening showed that they were more in accord with the views of the Sheepowners’ Federation than with those of the conference as a whole. We are of opinion that the committee will be compelled to formulate a scheme free ftom the obnoxious features that we object to. “We also think that it is Imperative that any scheme formulated should be submitted to the Sheep Owners' Federation of New Zealand for their adoption. Our Federation, which represents nearly 11,000,000 sheep, considers that this can be easily done by means of a postal ballot through the medium of the sheep returns recently published, so that it can reach every sheepowner in New Zealand and the conditions could be dispassionately considered and a true majority of opinion secured. “We further think that the proposals are too important and farreaching to be disposed of by a committee without reference to the great body of those interested.” QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT.

Replying to Mr W. H. Field (Otaki) Mr Massey said that he did not think there would be any difficulty in finding sufficient cold storage for the meat which came into the pool either at this end or in London. He wished to make it clear that there was no proposal to store meat for the purpose of raising the price to the British consumer, but it might be necessary to do so at times in order to regulate the market. Replying to Mr J. Craigie (Tin ia ru) Mr Massey said that if it was possible to do so he would be pleased to put some members of the Opposition on the Parliamentary Committee which was considering the meat pool. Possibly Mr G. W. Forbes and the Hon A. T. Ngata would be appointed. f UNCONSCIOUS COHESION. WELLINGTON , January 11. The conference of freezing companies’ representatvos which met in Wellington on Tuesday, resumed yesterday under the chairmanship of Mr C. A. Delautour. Pending some announcement from the meat pool committee the meeting formulated a tentative scheme for the simplification and improvement of the methods of handling meat in New Zealand and London, for reducing charges in factories, and in transport overseas. At 4.30 p.m. the committee was invited to meet the meat pool committee, which had been in session all day. Tlie chairman Mr D. Jones, M.P., frankly outlined to the freezing companies’ representative their ideas for handling the difficult question. It then appeared that both parties had been working on almost parallel lines, that there were really no differences of opinion lietween them. A few points were shelved on both sides for further consideration. The parties agreed that the appointment of a producers board and r an auxiliary board in London, must be an advantage to the producers and to the Dominion ; that by the elimination, from shipment, of all small consignments of meat immediately the pool, in effect compulsory of a very large proportion of the season’s output could be established. At the same time it was made clear that in spite of all the existing con-

tracts the large capital invested in proprietary companies and agencies in New Zealand must be respected, at present at least, and full freedom of operation, with absolute seeurity against intervention, must be permitted. POOL COMMITTEE MEET. IMMEDIATE ACTION IMPOSSIBLE. Tlie committee set up by the producers meeting yesterday to go into details of the scheme for establishing a compulsory meat pool, has commenced work. Tlie discussion at the meeting of the committee to-day made it clear that everything necessary for complete organisation to deal with the pool’s business on sound commercial basis cannot be done at short notice, and, meanwhile, there will be no interference with current business whether on a c.i.f. basis or otherwise. This afternoon the committee met representatives of the freezing companies and informed them of the above decision. Certain improvements in present methods were agreed to by the freezing companies, and others suggested are being considered by them.