MEAT FOR BRITISH ARMY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2611, 5 November 1915, Page 6

MEAT FOR BRITISH ARMY

PREMIER'S ANSWER

WHAT IF COMMANDEERING CEASED

HINT OF POSSIBILITIES CBy Tetogrwh.-flrooial Eeuortir.l Palmerston N„ November 4. The Prime Minister was interviewed here to-day by a small deputation of meat producers who desired explanations on. certain matters connected with Uhc sale in London of meat which was commandeered here for the army and afterwards sold to private firms whom tho New Zealand farmers suspected of making unreasonable profits.

The speakers for the deputation put before the Prime Minister the points raised at the meeting held in Palmerston North on Wednesday evening and reported in- Thursday's Dominion. They added that the farmers were not grasping after more money for their meat. The thing farmers could not understand was where the money had gone which represented the difference between the price paid in Now Zealand and the price received in TSngland for the portion of the meat sold. What was wanted was an arrangement limiting tho selling price for those who bought New Zealand meat from the British Government.

Replying, Mr. Massey. said that if the farmers here did not understand the position they ought to. The present position had been created to foil ait attempt at all-round exploitation. The arrangement with Britain had worked well, and he noticed not one of tho speakers had found fault with the price which was being paid, by the Imperial Government. I ask them now are they satisfied.

Mr. Lysnar (Gisbomo) answered that the price was satisfactory if the meat went to the Army.

Mr. Massey: Tho whole of the beef goes to tho Army, a largo proportion or the mutton goes to the London market, and the whole of the lamb goes to the London market, and that is done to regulate prices. Continuing, Mr. Massey said that the outlook was good and the stores were practically empty of meat. There might be 150,000 carcasses in store in New Zealand. We were on tho edge of a new season, with the stores practically empty, eleven new_ stores erected, and room for one million more carcasses than before. Where formerly it cost ljd. to market our lamb it now cost 21-9 d. The New Zealand High Commissioner had advised that no unreasonable profits were being made out of our meat at tho London end, and that the stops taken to limit speculation had been completely successful. As to the fears that 'after tho present arrangement ceased New Zealand might find that its former customers had been squeezed out, Mr. Massey said that provision had been made for tho trade to revert to the old channels when the existing arrangement is terminated. An inpression had been cultivated that formers were not getting the prices they were entitled to. Following were the actual figures in pence:—

Peace War Inprice. price, crease. d. d: d. Wether mutton 3i 4} 11 31 51 U Ileef 2 5-16 4? 113-16

_ I don't say this increase is not justified. remarkedOlr. Massey. but I say it is a fair increase. Under tho arrangement with the Imperial Government Now Zealand had exported since March 3 just under £6,000.000 worth of meat. . Farmers had told him the arrangement worked well, and that was his opinion too. It had been said m another .quarter that we were getting less than'the Argentine for meat, but if the figures were read properly the prices would be found about couaj Phc Prime Minister concluded: "I have been afraid for some timo they would toll us they did not intend to continue the oresent arrangement. Tho answer to that would bo that we could place our meat on the London market just the same, but I say no, we could not dn it. If this arrangement ceased we wilt be faced with a shortage of ships " Mr. Lysnar: Tho ships have been commandeered, i Mr. Massey: Yes: but they would not continue the commandeering under thoso circumstances. We are conducting our business in the onon, and our nooks can be inspected. I have heard the suggestion that someone at this end misrht be making a profit out of it, but that is not so.