THE DOMINION'S PRODUCE.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16857, 10 June 1920, Page 7

THE DOMINION'S PRODUCE.

* — FOREIGN markets suggested. PRODUCERS' ORGANISATION desired. an outcome of a report submitted | «'<terdav by Mr J. P. Hall fn the re-j cent producers' conference held in WeliTngton, and a brief address del.vered . bv him on the question of the export: and marketing of the Dominion & pn-. Mary produce, a well-attended meeting of members of the Canterbury A. and p A==ooiation supported proposals; made that an organisation of business men should bo established to look the interests of tko Dominion's pro-| ducers; that under prevailing circum- j stances some enquiries should be made : regarding the finding of foreign markets for New Zealand produce, and] that enquiries should be made as to 110 j supply of insulated shipping for the carriage of produce to the e markets. 3ir Hall's report on the conference, was a lengthy one, but most-of the mat- | ter has already been covered m 1 ress ■ reports. Concluding his report, he said with regard to rates of freight the shipnine representatives absolute,y refused ; to cive anv indications of what freights were likely to l>c till the Imperial Government abandoned shipping control., Pre-war rates were: Beef 9-16 d, mutton 114$. laab 12-lGd, while the 1920 ■rites were: Beef 1 11-16 d, mutton 1' 13-ltid, lamb 1 15-lGd. Tho abovo. prices represented approximately per, lb the amount for which the Govern- j ment engaged the whole of the msu-, lated space, viz., 12s Od per cubic; ton MOft), in addition to which there! had lately been substantial charges tor, demurrage while ships were waiting m i London to unload. If producers did j nothing more about snipping they would be fortunate if they got their lamb carried at 3d. No one who thought seriously about the matter expected that much good would result from such a large meeting called without much knowledge of the facts, which constitute the present position; Jhey were right. The Board of Agriculture cither had not got the facts, or they omitted to bring them forward. The result was that nothing definite had; been done with regard to expediting tha j clearance of New Zealand meat stores; before November next, oi, failing that, as to the terms upon which meat could be shipped in view of the Imperial Government's control of shipping. No step of any kind had been taken or even suggested for the purpose of enabling farmers to own or charter their ships. No information was available as to the requirements of America, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, or Poland m the way of wool and meat, and their liability ,to receive, distribute, and pay for the same. If producers had only i passed a resolution requesting the Go-1 vcrnment to ascertain when the Impe-; rial authorities were going to clear the stores and release shipping, and failing, satisfactory replies on these points to j make arrangements for shipping our I meat and wool Lo the Continent, and \ extend credit for that purpose, it was [ probable that they would have done far | more than leaving their interests to be dealt with by a combined committee of bankers, freezing company represeritatireSj and producers. Mr Hall, in speaking to the report, said that at the" present time the producers were in about as dangerous a .position as they could be. "With the depression in currency and shortage of supplies, the prices were almost abnormal, but if it so happened that prices declined, and currency was deflated at the same time —well, the country's whole commercial fabric would break up fast. In this period the producer should consider the margin between the ■price paid him and the wholesale prices. The prices -as ruling now were fixed -n 1915, and they showed a margin of -Jd — which was then considered fair—but before 12 months hnd passed the margin bad extended to 3Jd.~ That margin was stilj in existence, ,If a slump-came ai ?d there was a substantial decrease in prices, that margin should bear it. Mr Coop, the other delegate, and he agreed that it was up to producers "to _ bestirj themselves and get some organisation appointed to look after their interests. He moved: "That- it is desirable that some enquiries should be made regarding the finding of foreign markets for New Zealand produce, and also as to insulated ships which could carry the produce to those markets." Mr J. O. Coop, seoonded the motion, said that the best thing the producers could do was to look for insulated shipping space for their produce. The producers must look after their own interests.

,Mr W. D. Westenra, tlie chairman, saJd ho thought that there should be an organisation of business men to look after the interests of the producers. There was no question about it, that ' those who had been relied on had too many irons in the fire, but they could thank Mr Massey for the good work he ( had done for the producers. _ Mr Hall's motion was carried unanimously. ■