AN IMPOSSIBLE SCHEME

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2422, 30 March 1915, Page 6

AN IMPOSSIBLE SCHEME

GOVERNMENT AND THE FREEZING WORKS.

A roply to those of the critics of his administration who say that the Government should have taken over the' freezing works in order to sccuro fair play to the meat producers was made by the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey) while he was speaking to a deputation of beef-producers yesterday. "Some people have said to me, "Why don't you tako over the freezing works!"' he said. "I ask you as business men to look at ivliat that would mean. There are, I should say, at least twenty-five freezing works in New Zealand, and they are big establishments doing big business. There are not many of the companies that have been established at a cost of under £100,000. To take over twenty-live of them would cost two millions and a. half of money. And how long should we require thorn? Wo all look forward to the end of the war, though I am bound to say that the end of tlio war is not in sight yet, and I think it is reasonablo to assume that the end of -tlio war will be' before next Christmas. That would meansupposing this proposal to be made sincerely—that we should get only a few months of this season of working. But, of course, we could not be _ expected to take over a business which would cost us two and a half millions for two months of the remainder of this season. It is not a reasonable proposal. A member of the deputation: No, it is absurd. Mr. Massey: Very well, I am glad to hear you say so. Of course it is absurd, and yet it has been made to mo apparently in all seriousness. An arrangement such as is suggested would burst up the companies' contracts, but it would not do away with the companies' obligations, and persons w*ho suffered loss because of the breaking or their contracts would probably be awarded compensation if they proceeded against the Government in tho courts. You see tho enormous responsibility that it would entail."