GOVERNMENT MEAT CONTROL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2420, 27 March 1915, Page 8

GOVERNMENT MEAT CONTROL.

Sir,; —I have before me a oiroujar issued by the Wellington Meat Export Co., and I must say it requires a good deal of explanation. The circular says: "Should growers wish to 6ond in stock, and get paid on the actual turnout, we are quite willing to receive on tliese terms. It would be impracticable with small lots or broken truck loads, or when different mobs had to be boxed for purposes of driving to tracking stations." ..Now, is this a faot? For years several of the companies have been buying at per head, or at per 1b.,, on the. farm. Jn almost every case several mobs were mixed up for driving, after being separately marked by the companies' buyer. Ai'ter a few days the farmer would get the weights, etc., of his particular lot; or at least he was supposed to gat it, and I .have 110 reasou to doubD but what he did. l Before the war practically every freezing company advertised that it was prepared to buy btraight out, «>ver all, or freeze on owner's icoount. ' Now, I do not enter this discussion with any wish of fault-finding. I recognise that Mr. Massey and His Government have a load ujxiu their shoulders, which no Government in this country •has ever been asked to carry; and it is the duty of every one to assist in ' making the load lighter, during these troublesome times. The farmers of this country as a whole are loyal to the core, and are quite prepared to make monetary sacrifices upon their stock, for the Empire's sake. But there i 6 a feeling wide-spread throughout the country thaA the small farmers are being exploited by the proprietary meat companies, • without benefit to the consumers, whom the farmers would wish to assist. It is useless for Mr. Massey to say that he has the replies of about twenty meat companies, stating that freezing will be done on owners' account; when' farmers throughout the country know that when th&y apply to the proprietary companies they are told that the works are full, while at the same time purchases are being made straight out by the same company. Wo are now approachiug a time of year when sheep will be carrying a half-year's wool, and with wool at 18d. a lb. it requires no ' seer' to ' say what skins are worth. I feel sure that there is a position growing 'which, if hot quickly dealt with, will engulf the Government, which to this country would be a calamity. - And I believe the Government yet will have to'do what many tliink .should have been' done in the first place, viz., take over all insulated stores in connection with freezing works; pay for, or pay interest on, all contents;.fix the killing charges, etc., to be made by companiesput in Government graders; and fix the price or terms to De paid in stores. Of course wo know that many difficulties came in the way, such as shipping contracts, insurance, etc.; but a strong Government should not hesitate to deal with diffi-. cult positions.—l am, etc., ALEC. D. M'LEOD. ' Martinborough, March 26, 1915.