NEW ZEALAND MEAT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3567, 29 September 1916, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND MEAT.

COMMANDEERING PROBLEM.

STATEMENT BY • SIR THOMAS

MACKENZIE

ALTERNATIVES FOR PRODUCERS

(Per Press Association.—Copyright.)

(Received September 29, 9.35 a.m.) LONDON, September '28. Sir Thomas t Mackenzie, in ,an interview, said he did not regret the nonarrangenient of a contract between tho-Imperial .and Now Zealand Governments for fcho purchase of cheese, on the ground, firstly, that it would bo unfair to commandeer the produce of one part of the Empire while tho others were allowed the free run of the open market to r get better prices; secondly, commandeering tended to destroy a trade connection which might take years to build up and diverted the trade to Americans and others.

Apparently some misapprehension in regard to meat existed in New Zealand. It was not clearly realised that when the moat is sold it". becomes the buyers' property. A committee, of which, tie was a member, framed the policy for the sale and. distribution of the surplus through Smithneld in such a way as to securo distribution thrb^gn pre-war trade connections. The committee was not in- a position to .stipulate for tfio soiling of the me_at on a standard grade, nor to allow claims in respect to its not being up to quality. With reference to speculation, Sir Thomas Mackenzie points out that the Board of Trade agents were allowed 2 per cent, commission on sales, and the firms supplying the retailers were only allowed \A per pound on tho prices paid to the Board of Trade agents. Searching investigation failed to show there wa-s a.hy speculation, nor had the position of any member of the committee been used for the advantage of himself or others. While the Board of Trade fixed the wholesale price of our meat, British, Argentine, and other meats were not interfered with. Retail prices were entirely uncontrolled, which operated to our disadvantage., ,as retailers were able' to buy our meat at a comparatively lower rate, could afford to giro a higher price for tho "free" meat. Thus at one time inferior Argentine lamb realised 2|d per lb more than Now Zealand. The only alternative was for the New Zealand producers to make up their minds to Bell outright to the Home authorities and a/wnt, <hr. r.nbnpqu^nt fate of the meat, or send it on consignment, giving tho Board of Trade the first option tor army purposes, the surplus to be placed on the open market. In the latter naso there iras a possibility o* ireigi trouble. . , Sir Thomas Mackenzie is endeavouring to secnr© the abolition of the practice of'deducting certain weights; this would m«VJ » saving of 21b per .sheep and lib per'lamb.