PRODUCE AT HOME.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1189, 26 July 1911, Page 10

PRODUCE AT HOME.

4 THE INSIDE VIEW. HOW FARES IT IN LONDON DOCKS? INTERESTING DISCUSSION BY DOMINION FARMERS' UNION Ho«• l>e>t to cope with the handling of our froswn moat in London was discusssd by the Farmers' Union Conference yesterday. The president (Mr. J. Ci. Wilson) referred lo tho recent investigations of Mr. D. I.ys-nar, of Ui>boriu-. As a result, it had been decided tu form a Now Zealand Producers' Association. Subscriptions were invited from producers all over New Zealand. Only Marlborou;»h in the South Island and (-ne subscriber in Canterbury responded, but liberal support was given to the movement in (he North Island, especially in Haivkc's Buy, and a Producers' Association was started at what was thought to be an opportune time. The London docks had just been consolidated and put under one authority. They were admittedly much below modern rcriuireinents, and the port authority, after careful consideration, made a proposal to spend several million pounds to make them suitable for modern vessels. .The lioyal Albert Docks, where New Zealand cargoes were unloaded, were too far down the river, and, as far as conveniences for unloading wore concerned, were much behind the newer docks—notably Bristol, Liverpool, and Manchester. Our committeo had inspected those on the Isle of Dogs, tho West India Docks, and had found that large bprthages were available there, although not deep enough for modern vessels.

They had several interviews with the Port ".Authority, and urged that those docks should be made available for the larger vessels now in the trade, and with cold storage providfd. The report of the engineer and Lord Devonnort's speech showed that this had been determined on, and that a very large sum was to he. spout on the entrance to these docks, and that they were to be deepened.' He had cabteit Lord Devonport and had had a very reassuring reply on this point, though he pointed out that it would be some timebefore the entrance could ta finished, but meanwhile, there was to be much improved means of transit, and cold storage would be provided near the market. After a careful review of the whole position, it was decided to appoint a representative to go Home and watch New Zealand nroducers' interests, and impress on the authorities the necessity for bettor facilities for our trade at the consumers' end. Mr. P. J. Shelton was engaged, and lie went Home and had opened an office near Smithiield,

He ("Sir. Wilson) had no hesitation in saying that if we could secure the South "West India Dock and improvements, wo would have made the greatest advance since the trade commenced, v He did not for a moment wish to belittle Hie work done by the freezing companies in watching over the interests of flic trade. Were they united in their action, much might bo done, but there had been a want of unanimity amongst them, though the. North Island companies had combined to appoint a representative at Home. , To Protect the Froducer. lievcrting to this matter yesterday afternoon Mr. 11. D. Vavasour, Jlarlborough, moved: "That this conference endorse the proposal of the- New Zealand Producers' Association jlo ask Hie Government to introduce n Hill during the coming sosion to establish an association for the protection of the producers' interest, in regard to frozen and other produce, and empowering I'hat association to levy a rate on all sheep (exempting flocks under 251) and all cattle (exempting herds under 50) for the purpose of providing tho necessary funds."

Mr. Vavasour gave a retrospective review of how Iho association had been started. In lflOS he had spent six or nine months in London, a great part of his time being amongst the frozen meat industrv at Srnithiietd market. The results of Ins investigations were published by most of the papers in New Zealand. As an outcome of the assertions and revelations which ho had made, one company in Wellington had sent its secretary straight Homo, to investigate for themj.olves, and (lie Canterbury Agricultural Society had called a meeting of all those interested in the meat trade in Christchurch. At this meeting tho assertions which he made had been cried down more or less, many contending that they were not. correct, but Mr. Mackenzie happened to bn there, and he had proved that many of tho assertions were correct. This silenced a good many tongues. A committee was set up at tlie meeting but, practically nothing came out of if. Later, Dr. Cable wrote from Home and was howled at for making extravagant assertions. Then came Mr. Lysnar's account of the meat business in London. Jlis statements were more full nnd startling than cither of the others. A cominiitee had been set up, and it had gone fully ill to the report, nnd verified the statements made, lief ore leaving London a copy of the report hud boon sent to every meat merchant, salesman, and other business men, with, a request that they should lonk over the report and, if there was anything in it that they thought was not' a fact, to let the committee know within two weeks, and the replies would be published, together with iho report. Xot a single item in the report was cavilled at. IV hen Mr. Lvsiiar came back to 'Now Zealand a irmnbv of producers put their heads together, and formed this association.

Some Startling Figures. As there was a great deal of misconception and want ol knowledge as to the objects of the association, he would give them shortly and concisely. They wore to collect data and information as to. the best manner of marketing all produce of this Dominion, and to take steps to remedy any abuses which there are, or which might arise from time to time. There were, said Mr. Vavasour, hundreds of abuses. The conduct of the meat industry in London was absolutely disgraceful. Another object was to search for new markets in the world, and to advise as to the best means as to opening such iharkets, and to generally look after the interests of the producers in every way, and to advise as to the best means of handling and marketing all produce. Every day they had before them things cropping up winch made it necessary to have a representative in London—a man whom they could him to. and ask how this or that abuse could be remedied.

They had no intention of interfering with companies or individuals in the actual marketing of the . produce. He wished to disabuse their minds of this idea. All I'hey wished lo do was In facililatc marketing, and do away with (he aljiifos existing, and look out' for fresh market?, and conserve the interests of the producer in every way. The freezing companies themselves would, he was sure, find it a great benetii. It was not the intention lo ask the Government for anv help. Cut tins out flocks of sheep under 230, and herds of caltlo under 50 thev suggested thai: there should be a levy of 7s\ (id. per thousand on sheep which— on, say, 20 million sheep—would mean .£7500 a year. Taking a million cattle to levy on at 7s. Gd. per 200, that would give JJIS7S, or a total of «£9575 per year for the first year or two, probably not half ot tins would be required, but if it' was taken for exploiting new markets, a good deal would be u=i'd. He was convinced that money could be saved to the producers. He would take meat as an example of how our trade was conducted in Lembn. Before VM the storage in London was lo=. per ton. After 1000 it was quietly raised to ,£1 Os. 0d It was nobody's business in London to look after it, and wo paid the increase. This amount represented a loss on the meat shipped from Kew Zealand last year of .£70,771. Another item was a deduction of 21b. per quarter off all beef and mutton, and a lib. dediiclion off lamb. This was one of the little amusements of "(he trade." (Laughter.) It was Ihe only market in England where they did it. Thi? loss on I his account from beef was •£171.600. or a fatal loss last year of

-E201,371. These were slarlling figures, anil if wn Ir.ul had a representative- in London they should have been wiped out years iigo.

Dock Charges and Insurance Rates. The London deck charges, including the charge? Nt Hmitliliclil, were t L'l -Is. per lon. At Manchester they were 18s., at Liverpool )").-., and at Bristol !)s This meant mi enormous amount every year. Lord Devonport iiad assured him that the London charges were to be revised. Owing t.) tho wretched innnner in which meal was handled in London, Hie transit being so long up lo tho stores (.-oniciimcs as long us Mi hours), in uninsulated barges, insurance companies had been raising their rates year by year, und claims for damagp were becoming greater every year. Now they had to pay nearly double the rate of insurance, which they used to pay. However, I hey had boon promised alterations in tho docks, and this would economic handling, and they had also been promised new barge.'?, properly insulated, so that the whole thing was getting in order for a man to takn it up and keep it going. In loss than 12 months, if this association were slartcd on the linos it should be, they would be able to save,.to tho freezing industry alone, a million a yenr, and that without any friction arising between the middleman, the salesman, and the producer. Ueforring to the butter industry, Mr. Vavasour said that he understood that this produced even more money than frozen meat did. The butter people had been moving to get a man sent Home by tho Government, but he was against going to the Government, as he thought it best to keep the matter as a business proposition in their own hards. They were only asking an infinitesimal sum, and the butter industry could save as much as the freezing industry. The fruit industry was also moving to get a representative at Home, and as one man could do the work for them all, he thought that they should amalgamate in this scheme.

The Actual Bill. It was proposed that a Bill should be brought in to give them power to levy a rate not exceeding 7s. 6cl. per 1000 sheep, ami 7s. Gd. per 200 head of cattle. The dairy people would only subscribe ,£187."), as against ,£7500 by the meat industry. He did not think that this was asking too much. It was proposed to call the association tho New Zealand Producers' Association, and to divide it into eight divisions, four in each island. Each district would have its own branch, and would send two delegates to an advisory council, which would sit in Wellington from time to time. Then there would be a first-class business ■ man at Home to look after affairs there. He had no doubt but that the Government would work in with them, and help by giving the necessary legislation. In his opinion it was one of the greatest business propositions ever put before the producers of Xew Zealand, and it would mean millions in the pockets of the butter, niQtit, fruit, and flax producers.

Mr. Ensor seconded the motion. They were not going to the Government begging help. They were only asking to be allowed to TloTp* themselves by rating themselves, and sending Home their own direct representative.

Do the Evils Really Exist? Mr. M'Queen remarked that ho had seen a contradiction of Mr. Lysuar's statements, and was sorry that ho had not got the contradiction with him. Ho would lie sorry to see the association given legislative power to rate the Hocks and herds of the farmers of New Zealand in order to remedy a whole lot of evils that were said to exist at Home iu regard to the sals of our slock. He had grave doubts as to whether" they actually existed. It was strange that people would buy our meat niter it had been handled in such a way as some people alleged. Ho had been shipping Home far «. number of years, and lie was satisfied with his price?, and his agent had never said a word iibnut any of the alleged abuses in regard to the handling of the meat. 31 r. M'Queen said the insurance companies had been decreasing I heir rates.

The Hon. T. .Mackenzie: "They raised them a year ago." Mr. M'Queen went on to say that the Government would do all the levying of taxes that was required. The present proposal was the most extraordinary which he had ever heard put to business people. Mr. Talbot (Poutli Canterbury) thought the meat, butter, and . fruit products should be looked after by one man. Ho did not think a board should have a. right to collect a rate all over the Dominion, but lie thought the idea a good one, if it could, be done in another way, but lie did not like the power to collect a sheep rale. Mr.. Birch (Wellington) thought that some reforms could be instituted by having their own man at Home, but he was not in favour of the stock-owners being taxed as , suggested. They had no right to take upon themselves the recommendation of the taxation proposed.

The Chance of a Life-time, The president of the conference (Mr. .T. G. Wilson) said that this was the time to do something.. London was five and twenty years behind the times, so far as the dock was concerned. Tho whole of the dock; were now forced to do something by the work done at Liverpool and tho other ports. Practically nothing had been done at the London docks since ISS2, and large areas of the docks were useless. There might bo abuses in London, but (hey could be remedied at any time if they roulii only bring influence to bear. It' they allowed the time to slip, the American' Trust, with its enormous powers, might, get the whole of the benefit of the alterations. They were alive to the position, and were watching it now, and New Zealand should be in first. Tho Government could not promise to use tho berths in certain conditions, the freezing companies were not combined, but they (the New Zealand farmers) could make terms. Whether it was worth while to have the rate struck he would not say, although ho would welcome it personally. This was not a scheme for the association, which had put its hand in its pocket to the tune of t CI7,OOU, but was for tho producers generally. It seemed to him that, if there was anything to be gained by having a ma.ii at Home, it must be kept up by a general levy, or it must fall through. ' If they irero united, and realised tho position, ho thought that they would bs foolish if they did not get the benefit offering. Mr. M'Queen: Has this matter ever come More the branches? The President: "Xo. It conies from Marlborough." In conclusion, the president said that the conferpv.ee had now an opportunity of milking a recommendation. If they said

"Xo," they could be certain nothing further would be carried on. They could not expect a few individuals to run the thing on. If tho country was wise, it would get the accommodation, and distribution offering. If tho public of Xew Zeiland were not alive to the position, they would lose it. They should get in, and get ".'o many" berlhages for Xew Zealand steamers. If they did not do it, they would lose the chance, of a lifetime.

Maior Lusk (Auckland) stated that ho ]iatl heard of complaints and rumours of very bad management in London for years past. If New Zealand meat was handled and distributed in the best manner, ho did not think that there would be such a great difference, between Xew Zealand meat and the locally-grown moat. If wo could get a better price for our meat by having a man on the spot, surely the scheme would pay them. Certain combines and trusts were trying to capture ihe meat trade of the- Dominion, and how did we know thai they were not tryin" to prevent the meat being properly bandied now? A smart man on (he "round would be a great advantage, lie would not be opposed to paying the levy him-elf but he thought that the matter ■should be diseuss?d by the various branches and. if they were favourable, then by aii means lot them a>l; the doveminent.

A Little too Fast. Mr Evans (Kaiapoi) sn.ii! that he was satisfied that meat shipped lo London had not been made the us of, and they had to thank Mr. I.ysnar and Mr. Vavasour for what they had done. At the same lime, while this was a step iii the right direction, they were going a liitle ton fast. Personally, he thought that tho meat should be stored in .New Zealand, aud distributed to the markets as required. Under present conditions, they could not expect Ihe meat to reach the' London market in tho best condition. The whole system required revision, aud

llii> proposal ns the beginning nf it. He mov«l the following amendment :- "This conference expresses its sympathy with tho ofioHs of Iho >.o\v. Zealand l'l-mlncers' Association io improvo lilt! handling and sale oi our frozen produce in London, ami relers iis proposal to promote a Bill giving it power to levy a rato on sheep and cattle to provide it with funds, to tho various pruvinehl executives foi; their consideration." 31 r. 0. Shoat (North Canterbury) seconded Hie amendment, and supported it strongly. Ifn hail boon warned that (he American ileal Trust was operating in our midst, and it behoved the Government to look into this mailer. Mr. Ahkgill (Auckland) nl'o supported the ainendiuent. and suggested Unit the conference should recommend that reports should be a>kod of the various breaches. .Mr. K. -Maxwell I.Taranaki) spoke in favour of the sulifinip as a whole. He would be prepared to go right on and to lake the risk of a hauling over the coals from a few, considering the tri-nisn-ilous issues at stake.

.Mr. t. \Y. Foster (Southland) thought that tho pa-sins of .such a motion as proposed would kill the union. Tho proposal should first go forward to the. branches. .Mr. Alickny (Marl borough) strongly supported the motion. Mr. Campbell (Wellington) thought (ho proposal would necessitate the work of half a dozen men at Home instead of one. Only about 15 per cent, of the stuff sent out of -N"ew Zealand was sent out by the producer—the balance ■ went from the freezing companies. The scheme would be a good one for the latter. Tin; only chance of the branches carrying this was to have someone to explain the whole scheme thoroughly.

Hon. T. Mackenzie Speaks. Tho Hon. T. Mackenzie thought Jho matter was one for tho conference. What had impressed him was the lack of power the proposed man would have, in tho huge London market. Mr. Lysnar got a great grasp of the. position at Homo as to meat considering the short time ho was there, but, with all respect to Mr. Lysnar, it was not thorough. Then, again, Mr. Lysnar's knowledge of wool was not perfect. He (the Minister) considered that wool was handled very well in London. Tho High Commissioner's ofiice was the first office, to be responsible for the handling of >'ew Zealand produce, and if these officers, were not doing their work, he said most emphatically that they should he called on to give a proper explanation. A man sent Home by tho producers would do good, but lie would have to co-operato with the men already there,. Each particular branch had to have its expert. Mr. Vavasour's report, in his return from London, had disclosed many weaknesses of the trade, but, he added, a man sent Homo by tliu producers would have no status. A man would do good undoubtedly, but he had to have enormous power behind him. At this stage the discussion was adjourned until this morning.