WOOL AND MEAT.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16726, 8 January 1920, Page 6

WOOL AND MEAT.

THE COMMANDEER QUESTION. One of the most important questions before the primal prodmvrs f Dominion at the present time isth.t of tho extension or abolition ot tho : control of meat and vrool_ f rom Zeal it';l Tho position now if that co ,r„Tof ' hi xS * '■ the Imperial Government 1 lW ;uun n-xt, and no definite art been arrived at as to ratigcnu nts ii.nol » oI what is to be done a.- w i . lion closely lor a good w.ifc, Uim pa. . and the treat majority oi Ju upu ; Muiatives of tlio treezing company 1 are of the opinion, and stio.igli uige ■ it. lhat the commandeer ot meat should , : I;,, extended tor another twelve immt.vs : [ ai Te.ust. It is tine that a tree market | I would probably he welcomed .1 the • suinping position was normaJ, or a good a,;, I.CIUT iiia:i it i». but under he . cuMing conditions it is oM.sidered that an extension ot the commandeer would ■ i bc<- -;erve the interests of the ' | Donation. The representatives of the ,! lreoaiiic interests ipiue rcccntlv made • representations to the l'nme Minister with a view to obtaining an extension ;of ihe control >vsu»ni on account ot . the eongest.'d state of the works and the failure of the Imperial lunei nineni . to lift the .•uouinu.auou of meat am » it is undorstoiui tho Now Zoahinti • Government has eoinmtinieated with the British Governnvnt as a result. . 1 The repiv from England was to the i effect that at present tho (lovernment •.I was negotiating with the Australian • land Argentine" moat interests in coti- ; ncxion with the extension ot the control of meat from these countries, and . until tho negotiations were settled no » definite* arrangement could be arrived ■ at with Netv Zealand. lien those - bigger interests have been tlcalt with, tlien the Dominion's turn would come, i and the Imperial ("roveininont indicated : that the terms which would bo offered > 1 to New Zealand would be as good as i those offered to Australia and the Ar- ; gentine. This reply is considered to i be satisfactory to the extent that it - shows that the advantage which the ■ Argentine had during tho war over • New Zealand would cense. Tho political t situation at Home will, it is considered, hnvo a direct hearing on the Imperial ; Government's final decision to control • or not to control primary product*. i At present, the British Government > seems to he distinctly unstable on the ; control question. Cable messages from " England show that opinion is sharply divided on the subject, anil the nulhori- ■ ties are inclined to vacillate. Under • these circumstances it is, of course.- » impossible to say what tlio outcome of > the wholo matter will he, but so far • as New Zealand meat is concerned the • majority of producers and business men ; favour an extension of the control system, and this may possibly have some I effect on bringing the imperial authori- ' tie« to a decision. > With regard to wool, tho position is a good deal simpler, and there lias 1 been no noticeable agitation to liare 1 the control of this product continued > after Juno 30th. It js genorally con- ■ sidered liy tho representatives of the freezing industry that, tho sooner it is ' freed front control the better, as tho same difficulties as lo shipping and ' storage do not arise ns is the caso with meat. (PItESS ASSOCIATION TEI.F.GUAM.I WELLINGTON. January 7. The Prime Minister is still in communication with the Imperial authorities on the question of extension of tho meat purchase contract, and expects to have a definite reply within a day or two. Air Massey has already stated that tho indications are that fho Imperial Government will not tako meat for a further term.