THE COMMANDEERING OF OUR PRODUCTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2877, 15 September 1916, Page 4

THE COMMANDEERING OF OUR PRODUCTS

Our farmers of all classcs are reaping a harvest of high.prices for their meat and dairy produce, and the present is so pleasing that it is not surprising if thofuturo receives but scant consideration. Yet it is well to look ahead. The comniandeering of certain of our export products by the Imperial authorities has been loyally accepted by tho great majority of farmers, and properly so. It may bo that they would Save made larger profits had they Been allowed to soil their products in tho open market, and exception has been quite reasonably taken to fiio methods-pursued in the disposal of surplus supplies in London; but to tho principle of commandeering where the national interest is served thereby no objection can be made. When so much 'is said, however, there are features of tho situation which call for attention. The diversion of our produce from tho normal channels through which it was accustomed to pass to .the British consumer must havo some effect prejudicial or beneficial to tho pro-' ducer. He may be.getting good prices now—and he is—but he is not getting those priccs from his old customers. His produce, to a large extent, has been diverted from tho market on which he relied for his Bales in tho past, and where it had a ccrtain standing. His.presont market is merely a temporary one which will be available only so long as tho war lasts. What then 1 What is happening in the old market? What changcs arc taking plaoe there 1 How will these changcs affect tho interests of our producers when they aro compollcd to return- to their old customers and onco more seek to re-establish old connections? These aro questions which the New Zealand producer cannot afford to ignore, however well satisfied he may .be with existing conditions. Who has taken his place on tho London market ? So far as meat is concerned, Argentine suppliers have not neglected the opportunity, and those behind the big meat trusts are increasing thoir hold on the market. At tho recent Farmers' Uhion Conference, Major Norton, Managing Director of the Bristol and Dominions Producers' Association, made reference to the danger associated with the closing down of so many retail butchers owing to the scarcity and the high prices of meat. What aro known as the "multiple shops," that is to say, tho shops owned in groups and more or less controlled by the meat combines, aro thus enabled to extend their hold. The fewer there aro of tho independent retail butchers the greater the power of tho trust-controlled rotail establishments in governing prices, and the worse the position of the New Zealand producer. The situation was placed vory fully before Mr. Massey recently, and on his visit to England he may bo able to suggest to tho Imperial authorities a more satisfactory method of dealing with our commandeered meat. Ono method which would minimise the existing grievance in the matter of the 'distribution of the surplus supplies would bo for tho Imperial authorities to do tho commandeering of the meat they require after its arrival in London, leaving tho balance to go through the ordinary channels. This would not remedy tho shortage, but it would place the regular consignees in a better position than at present. But the Government might go furtho'r and appoint a live and experienced Trade Commissioner to look after the interests of our producers generally in England. Tho High Commissioner's Oliico is supnosed to do this at tho present time, tut Silt Thomas Mackenzie has so many otTicr things to do that ho, cannot give this matter his personal attention, and tho position requires tho whole attention of a capable and experienced man. Tho wider the markets for our produce in England the sounder the position of our producers will be, and the better the prices they may expect to command. We should be looking ahead very keenly now to anticipate and provido against after-war conditions, and it would be an excellent investment on the part of the Government to set aside a substantial salary for a Trade Commissioner in England, providing tho right man wore obtained.