PRIME MINISTER AT PUKEKOHE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3132, 10 July 1917, Page 6

PRIME MINISTER AT PUKEKOHE

OUTLOOK , FOR PRODUCERS

POST-WAR PROBLEMS DISCUSSED

By Telegraph—Press Association. Pukekohe, July 9. Some important statements in regard to the outlook for producers in Now Zealand and the prospects of improvement in the supply of ships were made by the Prime Minister tit a banquet this evening. Mr. Masspy eaid that at present about a quarter of a million boxes of butter were lying in the cold stores of the Dominion. ' The Government had been in communication during the past few weeks with the shipping authorities, and to-day he had received a communication from "the head of the Imperial Supplies Department in Wellington, statins that he "had succeeded in Retting space for fifty thousand boxes of butter in ships leaving during July and August. Portion of this space would be available to relievo the congestion in Auckland. .It was pointed out in tho telegram that the. Imperial Government so far had not allowed butter to be shipped as priority cargo. Mr. Massey> added, however, that last week, when ho hud a conference with the Overseas Shipping Committee, he stated that he was prepared to accept the responsibility of placing fifty or sixty thousand boxes of butter on board the ships in order to relieve the congestion. (Applause.) He did not know whether the Imperial Government would put him in gaol for this or not, but he .was prepared to accept tlio risk. (Applause.)

Next Season's Cheese Output, Mr. Massey said that he also had received a communication from the .British, Board of Trade authorising him to enter into negotiations with the producers of the Dominion for the. purchase of next season's cheese outpnt. Jle desired to obtain a fair price tor producers in view of tho increased cost or production, but there should be no endeavour to screw the last shilling out ot the- Imperial authorities.

Shipping Position Improving. In regard to ships he said that ehipbnildiii" was going on satisfactorily, but lit least half of the British mercantile marine had been required to carry supplies to the forces of the t Empire and of our Allies. Ho remembered whilst in . England, sending a cablegram to the Acting-Prime- Minister stating that he believed the shipping position would improve after July. Soino people had considered that lio was too optimistic, but ho was now-able to'make iin announcement which would show-that he was not far wrong. He stated that information ,had been received to the effect that the position would be ninterially improved during the next three months. He felt' this would be satisfactory news to the producers of the Dominion —(hear, hear)—as, if what waspromised was carried out, the shipping |K)sition for .next season would be practically met. Ships would not be able ito carry away the whole of tho frozen 'products, But they would inako way for next season being commenced without any serious • difficulty. The Imperial authorities now treated Now Zealand rery well. They had done their best (o keep the armies supplied, and had been able to get all the meat required from countries less than half tho distance of New Zealand from the heart of Bin pi re. Apparentlv they liad been able 1 to build up a sufficiently safe reserve to allow them to send more- vessels to tho Dominion. / Position of Wool. Mv. Massey said he had no doubt that it would be possiblo to arrange a lair prico for cheese. Prices of meat until tho end of the war had already been arranged. There was no doubt that Britain would again want our wool, and the price probably would be the same as that of last season. If Britain wanted our wool it also would want our hides and sheepskins, and that meant all the principal portions of the Dominion produce. Last year the Imperial Government took delivery of the wool hero, and the greater part of last 'season's clip had gone. He hoped the same arrangement would be made- for next season. Post-War Outlook. Referring; to tho post-war outlook, Mr. Massey said the prospects for producers wers very good indeed at present. The tremendous demand for wool, for instance, would cWinno until after tho war. On all the fighting fronts at present probably there were twenty million men in the armies of tho Allies and Central Powers. These men were now all in khaki, and when the war was over thov would want to set into other clothing, into the composition of which wool largely entered. Producers would, get good returns. 'He believed the demand for meat, butter, and cheese would also last after tho war. Air. Massey saki he hoped when the soldiere came back the producers of the Dominion would be encouraged to produce a grea* deal more than they ever produced before. They must not forget that they were going to have an enormous load of debt, and that money must be found to meet interest and sinking fund charges. Unless wo increased our production we must be prepared to faco a time of depression.. In order to avoid that \we must increase our output and 'exports. He had had ' a great deal to do with the . present policy of tho .Imperial Government, which . was to make the Empire self-supporting and.self-contained by producing all the foodstuffs and raw materials required for the Empire's purposes. This was the policy of to-day, and it was a pity i't had not been adopted twenty or twenty-five years ago.

Preference Within the Empire. Mr. Massey then referred to the question of preferential tariffs within the Empire, i'or some years the Dominion had given preference to Britain, but she nad not given reciprocal preference. Eβ had no fault to iind with that, as it had taken all our produce without charging any duty. It, however, had donethe same tiling for Germany and alls other enemy and foreign countries, but it would not do it anymore. (Applause.) Britain could not allow the goods of enemy countries 'to continue to come in on the same terms as goods from the overseas Dominion. (Hear, hear.) hi England there was a tremendous and a growing feeling in favour of the newpolicy. Even in Manchester, the great home of Cobdenism, the movement had obtained n\ strong hold. (Applause.)

Subsidising Ships. The possibilities of another form of preference were also touched upon by Mr. Massey. It was probable that by co-operation of nil the countries of tho Empire ii vast improvement in the shipping service- would be secured. The British Government might, in connection with the great trade routes to different portions of the Empire, subsidise suitable-<hip-i with low rates of freight for tho benefit of tho producer at one end and the consumer at the other. He believed that would bo done. It was part of the present policy of the British Government. They must make the best of the great ocean highway at our disposal. Ihey should discriminate in regard.to port dues between British shins and foreign vessels, always Tcmemlw'-iiiß, of course, what was due to our Allies.