Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1916. THE MEAT PROBLEM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3568, 30 September 1916, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1916. THE MEAT PROBLEM.

Sir Thomas'- Mackenzie's explanation with regard to the sale of New Zealand meat throws very little light on this vexed question. He says that "apparently some misapprehension exists in New Zealand," but that is not the case. There is no misapprehension at all, only a certain knowledge that the' producers are not gotting Cia square deal." When the farmers of the Dominion agreed, to the Government's proposal to commandeer all the meat available for export they believed that it was all required for the j soldiers, and they were prepared, for such a good cause, to sacrifice the prospects of big prices on. the open market. But they are not at all satisfied with the way the* scheme has turned out, and judging by the High Commissioner's statement, there is little hope of an improvement in the conditions. He confesses that the committee which framed the policy of sale and distribution as practically .helpless so far as fixing a standard price for the meat is concerned, and what the producers want to know.-is': if it was. known that there would be a surplus, why was the' New Zealand Government not advised of the fact? And if it was made aware that all the meat would not be required for the troops, why have the producers, been exploited to such an enormous extent ? If the committee arranged for the distribution of the meat through pre-war trade connections, as the High Commissioner states, -why was it necessary to allow the Board of Trade agents a commission on the'sales? It appears to us as though some agency has been at work which makes the distribution of the meat more expensive than it need be. All that the producers ask —and it is their right to insist upon it—is that the surplus meat shall be handed direct, without any commission to anyone, to an agent nominated by themselves, and that it be allowed to compete on the open market against all-comers. If that were done, there would" not be created the very unfair position of inferior Argentine lamb realising 2id per lb more than New Zealand lamb. Sir Thomas Mackenzie suggests two alternative propositions—one that the producers should sell outright to the Home authorities, and the other that the meat should be sent on consignment, the surplus.being placed on the open market. As we have, pointed out, the latter suggestion is what the farmers desire. But these propositions presuppose the cancellation of the commandeering scheme. If the farmers are given the option, they will certainly not sell outright unless at current market rates in London. The rank injustice of the present position is disclosed in the High Commissioner's statement that while the Board of trade fixes the wholesale price of New Zealand moat. British, Argentine, and other moats ore not interfered with. It is probable -that' within a few days influential New Zoalanders will be making investigations in London with regard to the scheme, which has been almost, a complete failure. Established original!v in the sole interests of the"solders, it has resulted mi Jthe entire dislocation of 'the New Zealand meat trade so far as the producers are concerned. It may be that some of the buying firms in the Dominion have been able to partially maintain their pro-; war' connections, but we doubt ( whether, if free trade in meat; were again permitted, they could j at once pick up the thread of their! disorganised business. i