MEAT AND SHIPS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3143, 28 July 1917, Page 9

MEAT AND SHIPS

PRODUCERS' PROBLEMS

DEPUTATION TO MINISTERS

AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION

Yesterday afternoon a deputation from tho Farmers' Union Conference waited on the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, and the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, and presented tho resolutions carried at tho conference regarding shipping and meat storage problems. Messrs. W. D. Lysnar and G. W. Leadley stated what the resolutions were.

In his reply, tho Prime Minister said that tho authorities had not lost sight of tho point that shipping companies Fhould bo regarded as common camera, but tho Crown Law Department was not quite certain whether they came within the present law or not, but was looking into the'matter. On the subject of storage tho deputation might have noticed what had already been dono regarding cheese—tho Wellington Harbour Board was increasing its storage. Maybe something of tho kind could bo done in tho Fouth. The importance of assisting ill the matter of butter- and cheese was not '•'overlooked. Just lately it had been arranged to ship GO,OOO Itoxes of butter to relieve stores before tho new season's produce came in. He could not say what would happen later on—he did not know—but he hoped tho companies would do their best to increase their own storage. Fresh machinery for the coming Fenson could not Ire obtained, but applications for financial assistance would bo considered in the future. All that could be dono by it tho Gorernippnt would do. Thero had beon an alteration in shipping matters, and the whole British oversea shipping was controlled by the Shipping Controllers, with Sir Joseph Maclay at tho head. The Shipowners*" Committee w«s practically extinct. Tho withdrawal of neutral ships through fear of tho submarines had intensified the difficulties, and on aocount of the shortage of vessels the food reserve in England fell dangerously low. Ships had then been withdrawn from the Australasian trade to get wheat from' North America and meat from South America. Protest was made, but the answer was that it could not be helped. ' Mr. Leadley: Why not lake some of the ships that are laid up? Mr. Massey said that they wero not our 'ships. Ho did not think the position was . as bad now, but Britain was still anxious. We could not build as many ships as wo were losing. ■ The withdrawal of ships was not due to trust operations. Mr. Poison remarked that 82,000 tons of Argentino meat had been taken to New York stores, largely by our ships. Mr. Mnssey replied that, lie conld not explain that, but the United States was unable to produce meat for herself. Mr. Tolson. said that 82,000 tons of meat were exported from New York to Britain. Mr. Massey said that that contention was not reasonable. They would not tranship from New York 'with shipping and tho meat market in their present states. Mr. Lysnnr said tho thing was exposed by the report giving statistics for 1915-16._ Mr. Massey said that thero was never such a demand in Great Britain for meat as at the present time, but it was impossible for the Meat Trust to inilu.ence tho position. Thero-. had been a suggestion that Wellington got an advantage over other New Zealand ports. The explanation was that Wellington was a final port. Mr. W. H. Triggs, of the Shipping Committee, endorsed the statements of the Prime Minister. Wellington had not been favoured. In the past the Overseas Shipping Committee had not recognised any responsibility as to the kind of meat to be put on the vessels, and I here wero cases where the freezing companies had not exactly followed instructions. Now,

however, the Shipping: Committee was issuing detailed statements of the cargo to be shipped r.t each port, and tho irregularities of tho past were unlikely to veour.

Mr. Massey here remarked that it would be rather difficult to give precedence to butter, as suggested, because tho Imperial Government bought meat and cheese, and consequently tlioso commodities took precedence. Ho was satisfied, however, that justico would bo done to New Zealand regarding nbailablo shipping —oven rnoro than justice, 'l'lio Government horo would leave nothing undone to keep tho industries going. 110 w;is preparod to go into the matter of payment for meat on hooks.

Sir Joseph Ward said that wliilo they were in England they endeavoured to feet the fullest 6upply of ships possible, and at this end also tho utmost had beon done. There was no one connected with tho shipping companies who had any say as to where tho ehips wero to go. "We were not the only people in<«nvenienccd, biiit he believed that nntil the war ended we -would not got much relief. Ho was sure the Shipping Contro'ler would givo this country all tho steamers that could lie spared. As to payment for meat on hooks, it would bo a good tiling, l>u,t it must not bo forgotten that there was a contract ivith tho British Government providing for delivery f.o.b. Did tho producers want to revoke tho contract and take tho chances?

Mr. Massoy: That would ho a dangerous'thing to do. Sir Joseph Ward said ho did not believe that the Meat Trust had any voice in the shipping arrangements. Mr. Mnssey: I hold that opinion, too.

Sir Joseph Ward said that he vns strongly opposed to the, proposal for loading produc« at one port. That wen,ld l>e retrogressive and a bad move. Ho considered it merely natural to suppose that the shipping companies were already effocting what saving of time they couhi.

Tho Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald said New Zealand was not so badly off as Australia. Tt would take, fifteen insulated and over 500 ordinary vo.w!s to ship away the produce now waiting in Australia, and there were 9,000,000 tons of wheat to bo dealt with next February. Mr. Massey said that respecting wnlnacks two cargoes were lo arrive in New Zealand within tlio next fow months.