THE RABBIT EXPORT TRADE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 234, 21 June 1918, Page 6

THE RABBIT EXPORT TRADE

Sir,—The prosperity of New Zealand at the present time is remarkable, raid it is likely to continue for a number of years. The war may end at any time (and I am surt'we all pray that, it may end soon), bnl the demand for oiw products will continue (even at a higher level than at present) for many years after [\\e war is over. The supply will not suffice for the world's needs, therefore high prices will continue, ami our producers and merchants will i-fnp u golden harvest. The overseas requirements are bound to react on all producing countries, the populations of which will have to pay very liinh prices for all foodstuffs they require for their own consjinption, or go without. Prices will be demanded in our own markets corresponding to those that rul« in markets overseas that are open to our exports. Even at Die present time, if there ; s a little difference in our favour in the price of foodstuffs here as compared with Homo values, there is an outcry, and the Government gets no rest until the difference is rectified. i lis fanners as a class have made, and arc still making, big profits, but aro they satisfied? Then Jtrain, look at tho present, controversy over butter prices. The factories which have supplied our own market; with butter at very profitable prices, but which leave them less profit than they would have received if they had shipped their supplies to England, are dissatisfied, and are now demanding that the difference should be made up to them What wonderful patriotism! And more wonderful still is the fact thai our own Government will help them, as they have helped them before, to.get iheir demands ""[Tow different is the lot of the unfortunate rabbit expo-ters of New Zealand. They are in trouble, being -compelled to sell their 1017 stock of frozen rabbits at a price and on such unfair conditions that every c.rato they deliver leaves a loss, and as timo goes on and rabbits remain unshipped the loss gets bigger and bigger. I want to make clear the fact that the compulsory sale to the NewZealand Government (acting on behalf of the Imperial Government) of tho New Zealand frozen rabbits not only docs t.ot give the rabbit exnortera a, farthing profit, but leaves them with a heavy oss: and, what is worse still, they have been nut temporarily out of business, and tin "trade is now practically at;a standstill. I'.vcrv other New Zealand product .Unit our Government has purchased on behall of the' Imperial authorities has leit a handsome profit to the producer and to tho exporter, but the, fro/.en rabbit exporters of New Zealand itre in the unique position of being the only trade thai have had to sell their products lo the Government at a loss. Purchasers bought them at a price that will leave them a veiy lmn. *ome profit, but a very handsome loss to the seller. We consider we have bean treated more like enemies than as bona fide NewZealand traders. Someone in authority ,6eems to be antagonistic to our business.

At anv rate that, is the way it appeal* to us,* and consequently we are either neglected or treated shabbily. i would point out that the frozen rabbit industry has been in existence in .New Zealand for nearly thiny years and employs a large number of ineu-probab.y 3000 or more if trappers are mcluded--and in normal times the yearly output of New Zealand . frozen rabbits will amount to approximately i 130,1 m. Wetherefore think our business should receive some -consideration. Our case is made all the harder knowing that it allowed to ship our own rabbits tlio Home values are so high that we vouul clear a very large profit on our outlajNow, if we wore butter or wool our Government would go out. ot th<.vway to aid us to obtain a P. 0 '™",;: • least of these abnormal .profits, but, aUs. we are only poor rabbit exporters, and, judging by our treatment eo tar, jim worth consideration. The Australian rabbit exporters i e--reive very different treatment from their Government. With their aid they obtained a very large order lost year for irozen rabbits which gave them fair profits, and this vear a further order has been received *y them which will enable the trade to carry on at a profit. We in. New Zealand are left out in the cold simply because our Government takes no interest in us. , . 3 Eabbits are considered a pest—wli> . The flesh is good food, and .is in great demand all over Great Britain, and tlio skins give employment to manythousands of furriers and hatters in. England, America, on the Continent:, and. • aho in New Zealand. There are alsohundreds of men employed by llie sKm merchants of this and other countries. In normal times rabbitskins return a •early sum of well over J6100.000 to New Zealand, and' during the p« three years rabbitskins have brought to New. Zealand, I estimate, ;>, total of iuUj JJ500.000. Therefore, 1 ask ngam, v.hy ire thev a pest? They are a pest simply be«use P we have allowed thorn lo become so; bring them' under proper Sol and they would Income an asset £ the country. Before the claims of tl* butter factories are even considered I sunn it that the rabbit exporters should a, least have their losses reimbursed, as. it.J» I quite impossible to keop going on ksses We. as well as others, must have profit? to euable us to carry on and gel a living.-! am, etc., pRiSKT rj CKBE .

Dunedin, June 18.