FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16045, 9 February 1920, Page 9

FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. FROM FETCHING FARMERS’ MEETING. {Per United Press A*ociation.) WELLINGTON, February 9. A deputation from the meeting of farmers at Feilding to discuss the position arising at the end of the meat commandeer interviewed the Prime Miister to-dav. Mr J. H. Perrett expressed the opinion that four million carcases would remain in store next December, and the farmers wanted to know’ where they were. Mr Massey said his estimate on the official figures would be about 2 million carcases. It was understood the two businesses—the Imperial Government’s and the farmers —would be doubled at the end of the commandeer. He had always been willing that a commission should go Home to look after the New Zealand producers interests, but had felt that to make it representative the members should bo nominated or elected by a representative gathering of farmers. So far he had not been informed that the commission had been so chosen. The question of expense would not be allowed to stand in the way. He had received letters to the effect that the commission was not sufficiently representative. Mr W. J. Poison, the principal speaker at the Feiiding meeting, said the four .men’ mentioned as members of the Commission, Dr Peakes, Messrs Russell Jones, M.P., and Wimsell, were chosen by a meeting of the Dominion , Farmers' Union conference and sheepowners federation. The Prime Minister, replying, said they had reason to lie satisfied with the result of the commandeer. He quoted an English authority as saying that the congestion in the Home stores was not expected to continue long. He regretted he had to take the responsibility of diverting some ships due for New Zealand to load produce to Newport News, Port Kembla, and Newcastle for ccal, but hoped such a course would not be necessary in the future. Everything possible had been done to safeguard the interests of the producers by finding out what the intentions of the Imperial Government were regarding the meat commandeer, but nothing definite had I icon known until a fortnight ago. The Argentine was not being favoured by British authorities, and was not, as was asserted, being supplied by the latter with three times the amount of shipping given to Australia, nor was there, control of meat in Now Zealand. It had been a straight-out purchase. It was absurd to say that England was being allowed to penalise the Dominions. There was need for New Zealand to be careful in marketing its meat, as there was plenty of opposition. Then there was a danger of the meat trust. He believed there was an organised movement to cause friction between the New Zealaud producers and the Imperial authorities with a view to allowing the trust to get a footing in Britain. The trust would be walling, he felt, to pay anything to get a footing in New Zealand. They were here now trading under another name. It was impossible at present to get at them, but a determined stand should be made. PROPOSED COMMISSION FOE ENGLAND. M ELLINGTON, February 9. Mr Massey, in a further reply to the meat deputation on the subject of a commission to go to England, said t-fla-t if the Dominion executive of the Farmers' Union nominated members of a commission and notified him that would be good enough £or him.