NEW ZEALAND MEAT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3575, 9 October 1916, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND MEAT

THE COMMANDEERING SCHEME.

INCREASED PRICE OPPOSED BY TIMARU FARMERS.

TIMARU, October 8. xesterday afternoon,-- a, representative meeting of farmers, ' pastoralists, and others was held for tho purpose of discussing what steps should bo taken to remedy tho trouble which has been caused through the disposal of- the sur r plus meat commandeered from New Zealand by the Imperial Government. Mr Johu Talbot presided, and there were between '60 and 70 people present. The Chairman said it was desirable that farmers and pastoralists, throughout the Dominion should be unanimous in any representations they might j make for: some better system of dealing with their meat.' Their me^t'-had' been commandeered on the basia ;of pre-war prices, and there had been no alteration since, although the cost of production had gone op very considerably; their meat had been seized and dealt with, and tho producers had not been consulted at all. That was surely wrong. The producers ought to be given some say in tho disposal of what they-arew. The scheme had'actri ed prejudicially to the interests of tho producers in several ways. Jt seomod unfair, too, that meat producers should bo singled out for the commandeering scheme when other products were left 1 alone. There were tho shipping companies, which mad-e enormous profits, but were left free to put freights up as high as they liked, and now that the P, and O. Company and the New Zealand Shipping Company had amalgamated the producers were more than ever at their mercy. Mr Masaey had acknowledged to him that mistakes had been made in connection with the meat scheme, but said that everything was new, and unforeseen conditions had arisen.

Mr Talbot then read the resolution passed by the meeting of farmers in Christchurch- on this riubject, and said ho thought it would be suitable for the Tiinaru meeting to pass. With regard to the suggested increase in price, ho said that this was not the most important part of tho. resolution; the chief tiling was to got the distribution of the surplus meat put on a proper basis, so that speculators would not be able to get hold of it. ■

A telegram was head from Mr, Jer. Connolly (Geraldine), suggesting ;that no increase be asked for, and that if one were given* it should bo regained by- the Ciovernment for the purpose of assisting soldiers or their dependents.

Mr P. O'Leary proposed tho Christchurch resolution, and speaking to it, he said'that the handling of New Zealand meat alf the other end was a serious reflection on "the business ability of those in authority over it. New Zealand might have expected a lead from the High Commissioner, but instead ofgcttingN.it from him, tho lead had come from the " way-backs," arid tho tussocks of New Zealand. No one had any objection to the meat being taken for the troops, but the handling of tho surplus had been sadly bungled. • ' „

Air Pater.son (Ottu'o) .said he did not agree with the request for another penny per pound. Tho present was not tho.time for New Zealand farmers to cry out for more money. They were getting well paid for their meat. That the distribution was mismanaged at the other otitl there was no doubt, but they should look at the matter from a broad point of view.and not. embarrass tho Home authorities.

Mr \V. R. McLaren, .said that ho as a sheep-farmer considered the price they were gutting was y, fair one, and to ask for moro would not only be greedy; it would be unpatriotic.

Mr E. D. Giles said he entirely agreed with that view, but he thought that some alteration should be made in the constitution of the board which distributes the meat. # ,

Mr Talbofc said there was evidently j a strong opinion that no increase in i price- should ho asked for, and lie sug- \ gostod that tho ro.solut.ion bo. pa-ssed with the deletion of the part referring i to mi increase- of price. ■ Mr'P. H. Labatt, of Cliristcliurch, addressed the meeting a,t this stage, advancing reasons why it was desirable that the Christchurch resolution should bo endorsed in its entirety. Mr Gerald Casey spoko in favour 'of endorsing tho Christchurch vesolu-. tion. Mr C. H. Verity said he was opposed

to asking for any increase of price. They were getting the biggest price they had ever received, and they should bo content. Mr W. Clausen spoke as a consumer, pointing out that it would be very unfair to ask for a higher price, as it would mean putting the cost of living in New Zealand up still higher. If the Government had a right to commandeer men for the war, sui'ely it had a right to commandeer meat. Mr Talbot said there was a good deal in the point made by Mr Clausen, and he-would • favour leaving out the requeßt for a higher price. Mr G. L. Hamilton proposed that the words of the resolution asking for an increased prico bo deleted. Mr O'Leary, as mover of the resolution, said he was quite prepared to I agree to that. The words referred to were then deleted, and the motion was carried unanimously. On the motion of Messrs H. Orbell (Raineliff) and D. Angland (Albury) another resohition was carried asking the Government to give representation to the producers on aU boards set up to deal with their meat;