FARMERS AND MEAT PRICES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2627, 24 November 1915, Page 8

FARMERS AND MEAT PRICES

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Now we are. getting at the facts. My. Oswald Hawken and his friends think that that extra million and a half, which they assume the British consumer is paying, should,go into the pockets:of themselves and their fellow producers, instead of into the pockets of tho shipping companies and underwriters, sotc. But, Sir, as "chairman of a committee," I should have thought Mr. Hawken would have recognised that, in time of war, shipping companies and insurance _ agencies _ would necessarily exact higher freights and premiums than in the halycon days of peace, and that he and his fellow producers, having made, an exceptionally good 1 bargain with tho Imperial authorities, would not have objected to those who accept all the risks of the business having a share of the profits also. Mr. Hawken does not dispute my statement that, under the arrangement'concluded with the Imperial aiijthorities by the New Zealand Government, .the producer here, is receiving jfrom ljd! to l|d. per lb. more for his ■beef and mutton than he did' prior to that arrangement being made. If we average that additional payment at ljd. per lb., the New Zealand producer has alroady received, on the shipments made, £1,750,000 over and above the amount he would have secured under the old rates. As a matter of fact, I believe, if the quantities were worked out, it would be found to be between two and three millions, but, for .the purposes of this letter, I am prepared to accept tho smaller figure as representing the position. Now, Mr. Hawken says, someone else is also bleeding the unfortunate British consumer, and he argues that it is very unfair that, in his necessity, the said consumer should not be able to secure his supplies at the old rates, plus tho New Zealand fanner's increased profit. That, at least, is the only conclusion I am. able to draw from his line of argument. So far as the farmers' increased profits are concerned, I should like .to point out, before proceeding further, that Mr. Hawken himself guarantees the correctness of my figures, when he jnforms me that the increased freight,.insurance," and distributing charges, on the meat already shipped, amounts to "one and a half millions,"'those extra charges amounting (on his showing) to "from ljd. to l-Jd. per lb,"; and, since he accepts my statement that the. increased payments by the Imperial an- ■ thorities to the New Zealand producers amount tovfrom IJd. to 1-jd. per lb., it follows that payments in respect of the latter (whioli are from Jd. to -Jd. per lb. higher) must amount to more than those made on the former account.

Now, Sir, ! submit that, before he [ complains. of the . additional charges made by, and, paid to,' .the shipping and insurance companies, etc., including the Port of Loudon Authority, and of the possible, but. exceedingly problematical, profits, the British Government is 'supposed to be making out of its deal with the New Zealand producers, Mr. Hawken should ask himself, in., all seriousness, whether, in view of his professed concern for the British-consum-ing public, he does not think he . and his friends. might not have foregone a portion at least of the increased payments they have received? Further, does he'consider it a fair or reasonable proposition that the man or men—be they the representatives of companies |or Governments —who accept all tbo risks of a venture, should be content with smaller profits than tho men whose business they establish and make additionally .profitable, on absolutely, ' safe . lines, at a time when the world's markets are plunged into confusion, and tilie normal conditions of trade are completely upset by a war which is accomI paniecl by deeds of piracy, aimed not only ,at. the British mercantile marine, but at all neutral shipping suspected of 'carrying on trade with any of the Allied Powers? Mind, Sir, lam not Justifying cither the shipping or insurance companies in the position they have taken up, and I am quite prepared to accept Mr. Hawken's statement that it is "harvest time" with them/ But they accept big risks in these days of submarine and piratical warfare,_ while Mr. Hawken and his friends, haying received 1 payment from the New Zealand Government (acting on behalf of the Imperial authorities) have no need to v/orry theit heads whether their produce reaches London or not.

1 am not concerncd With tlie defence of the Port of London Authority, rJid Mr. Hawken would have done better to. have left Bristol alone. ' I did not mention it, although I had a shrewd suspicion that "the power behind the throne" was really angling in that direction. All I did was tojx.int out that as the Imperial authorities requir-

Ed delivery of their meat stocks to be made in London, "to the Port of London the meat must go." lam sorry, thercittre, that 1 cannot accept Mr. Hawken's advice to bury myself in a cellar, but it is just as well, because it really seems as if someone is needed to protect Mr. Hawken from his new-found friends. Back of the agitation ho is championing it is very evident there exists the desire to upset fihe existing arrangement with the Imperal authorities, in the -mistaken idea that the producers can do better if fliey are left to their own devices. 'TJlong that road lies madness"—for the producer—until the war is over at least. /

- n remind Mr. Hawken that, at _ Palmerston Mr.- Massey told the depuf tation of three (of whom Mr. Hawken _ was one; that "he had been afraid for a some time that the Imperial authorities would tell us they did not intend to continue the present arrangement," _ and that he also told Mr. Hawken it ~ would be impossible for the New Zeas land producer to place his meat on the j market just the same, because, "if the 7 arrangement ceased, we would be found I with a shortage of shins." The comj mandeered vessels would, however, still k remain at the disposal of the Imperial t authorities, and, as we heard the other day that the number of steamers already in use by the Admiralty would _ be shortly increased from 800 to 900, it _ is easily seen that, deprived of their _ British Imperial customer, the Now , Zealand producers would be in a very j bad way, were they foolish enough to , cancel an arrangement which has ani swered their purpose so well. There is one point upon which I j should like to correct Mr. Hawken. I . have to rely for my facts and figures s simply and solely upon the public 1 Press, supplemented by Hansard, and ; thus I am not jn a position to check j his_ figures- in regard to the increased l freight charges, which he says the farm- , ers are paying. But lam quite prepared to accept his statement that very | substantial increases have been made , in the freight charges, and to the . amount lie states—with one exception. The meat freight charges, and all other , expenses in that direction, are paid by the Imperial authorities, and, as 1 remarked in my former letter, the British Government can be trusted to make its own business arrangements, quite independently of the gentlemen associated with Mr. Hawken. Granted that £100,000 more is being paid on freight for buttor ajid checse and that another £500,000 goes in extra freight charges on wool, what does it all amount to? The farmers are receiving higher prices than they have ever done, and it is the genoral body of the puhlic, rather than they, who are feeling the pinch. If Mr. Hawken is really concerned about the 'interests of the consuming public, I would'suggest that he takes steps, with his firends, to relieve the public- here of the additional charges .that are placed upon meat, butter, cheese, and wool, etc., to bring them into line with the London rates. If he does that, I, for "one, shall be prepared to hail him as a public benefactor.—l am, etc., FAIR PLAY. Wellington, November 20, 1915. COMMERCIAL ITEMS INVESTMENT SHARES.' A sale of Union Steam, ordinary, shares ct.\24s. 3d. wt,s reported in the investment market yesterday. ' The quotations were ee follow:— .Buyers. Sellers. ' £ 8. d. £ b. d. National Bank 6 0 0 — Well. Invest. T. and A. ... — 0 U 0 Well. Trust. Louu, Ltd. — 7 7 6 Christchurch Gas (£5) ... — 710 0 National Insurance 6 16 — Standard Insurantc 1 13 0 — Gear Meat (£1) - 4 8 0 Well. Meat Export i (£5) ... - 6 10 Well. Meat Export (£4) ... — 415 0 Well. Meat Ex. (525. 6d.) - 214 6 N.Z. Shipping (ord.) — 18 0 0 • Well. Woollen (ord.) 419 6 Well. Woollen (pref.) ... 3 6 6 - Taupiri Cool — ■ 015 6 Golden Bay Cement 019 6 10 6 Ward and Co 5 0 0 — W.F.OA. (£5) - 515 0 W.P.O.A. (£1) 12 0 - Customs duty collected "at tho port of Wellington yesterday amounted to £209914s. Bd. , ADELAIDE WOOL SALE. Br Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Adelaide, November 23. At the wool high rates were maintained. Greasy merino fetched 20} d. METAL MARKETS. London, November 22. Copper.—On the spot, : £82 155.; three months, £82 12s. 6d.; electrolytic, £96 to £97./

Tin-.—On the spot, £172; threo months, £170 15s. Pig-iron. 71s. 7d. Lead. £27 and £26 15s. Rpel> & r, £95 and £85. Bar silver is quoted at 25Jd. per ounce standard.