MEAT COMMANDEER.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16034, 27 January 1920, Page 5

MEAT COMMANDEER.

TO CEASE ON JUNE 30th. ,

The Prime Minister has received a cablegram from the Secretary of State for the Colonies advising that the Imperial Government has decided not to enter into any further contracts for the purchase of meat after June 3Qth next. The cablegram also states that regarding wool and dairy produce a reply to the New Zealand Government’s inquiries will be sent as soon as possible.

THE PREMIER’S VIEW,

“The decision of the Imperial Government was not unexpected/’ said Mr Massey to an interviewer. “For some time past there have been indications which went to show that the British Board of Tirade did not intend to continue the commandeer beyond the end of the present term. It will now be necessary for the producers to make the necessary arrangements for placing their meat on the British market on their own account, and the only difficulty in the way is the fact that so far as it is possible to ;judge there will be at the end of the present year (which really means the beginning of next season) a considerable quantity of the British Government’s meat remaining in the cold stores. My estimate is that in the period from January Ist to June 30th sis million carcasses will be placed ir. the cold stores. That, with the quantity in store on December 31st (approximately four millions;, will mean that there will be not less’ than ten million carcasses for which to provide shipping space. I doubt .f this can be doie in one year. I think the most that we can expect to have lifted will be eight million, leaving a carry-over of two million to be handled in the 1921 season, and for this special arrangements will have to bo made so that it will not interfere any more than can be luiped with the shipment of the ilew season’s meat, which will be coming in at tha/t lime. The problem should not be incapable of solution, and I do not think that we shall find the Imperial authorities unreasonable. Personally, I should have liked the meat commandeer to continue for another season, but we have got to do the best with the position as it exists, and 1 would suggest that the Board of Agriculture should take the initiative in doing whatever may be necessary. I need hardly say the Government will give every assistance possible. “I have no doubt farmers’ unions and other farmers’ organisations will thoroughly consider the very important change which they will have to meet and deal with at the. commencement of the 1920-21 season.

“A telegram from the Secretary of State says that a reply with regard to wool and dairy produce _ will he sent as soon as possible. I think that the wool commandeer will also come to an end at June 30th. By the way, a communication was received in December stating that the amount of the 50 per cent, profits due up to March 31st, 1918, would probably be finally determined and available about the middle of the present month, and that steps were being taken to expedite completion of the returns to March 31st, 1919. Mo further information has, however, come to hand, though I hardly think iit will be much longer delayed. But coming back to the possibilities of the Imperial Government desiring to go on with the commandeering system, my own opinion is that Ihey will not care about purchasing any other product than butter, which undoubtedly scarce and dear in Bril ain at the present date, though whait the price will be like by this time next year (and it will be nearly that date before the new season’s butter roaches Britain) no one can predict. “There are enormous stocks -of wool in Britain and the overseas Dominions at present, but the Department which controls this article is apparently placing just sufficient on the market to meet the immediate requirements of the cloth-working industry, and this is keeping up the value of the raw material. No doubt this is a profitable policy for the Department, but I doubt whether it is a wise one. There are possible complications in prospect. Next season a Australasian clip will probably go on to a free market, and be sold in the usual way ; but supposing the British Government owns then even half of the wool they own at present, what will happen? 'Will it come into competition with our wool? I don’t think for one moment that they would do anything unfair to us or against their own interest, but this storing up of huge quantities of wool suggests very serious and very awkward possibilities. “I believe that I understand the difficulties, or most of them, that wo shall ho called upon to face, but I am not by any means pessimistic. Britain can take all the meat, wool and dairy produce that we can send, and a great deal more. It ia my opinion that with a good market we can produce much more than we have raised up till the present. “There are other questions to be considered besides those I have mentioned — that of transport, for instance. We must have sufficient shipping to carry our produce to the markets of the world, and at reasonable freights. There must be no exploitation. If these conditions can be met, well and good. If not, we shall have to do the next bejfl thing. Let it be remembered that we can load even now one hundred big ships of 10,000 tons in one year with New Zealand products. That is a business worth catering for, and the business is growing, and will continue to grow. It is for the companies trading to New Zealand to do the right thing under the circumstances that have arisen. ’Live and let live’ is a. good motto, and if acted up to will save a deal of trouble in the future. “In the meantime we must avoid dissension. There are factors at work now to create jealousy and friction. I feel confident that we shall have the American Meat Trust renewing their efforts to obtain a footing in this countryefforts which I hope will be unavailing. I, trust that we shall be able to stand together, work for ourselves and one another, and so make certain that individually and collectively we shall reap the reward of our industry.”