"HARASSING THE PRODUCER"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 250, 10 July 1918, Page 8

"HARASSING THE PRODUCER"

. FIXING HEAT RUCKS. . i Says the "Aus'.ialasian":—The chairman (Air. .T. M. ( Ninll), in moving the .adoption of the -report and balance-sheet v at tho annual meting of Goldsbrough, n Jlort, and Co., i.:d., on June 2G referred to tho meat price-fixing proposals. Mr. .Niall said that the proposal of the Fed- ; !eral Government, to fix maximum prices , iof meat would piove a great blow to, ( 'and would inflict serious losses on, all J (persons engaged in the stock raising and 1 ;;stock fattening l)usine3ses throughout 1 '.'Australia, particularly on the small j holders. Tho mechanical fixing of prices ; would not onlv defeat the object for 2 i which it was being introduced, hut ."tr'ould, nt tho same time, seriously pre- 1 i judice Australia's best interests. The 4 ! most effective ortidote for excessive ( ' prices were free competition and inereas- ■' ed flocks and herds, and the surest means of approximating the stock figures •of 1691 was by ti.eouraging and helping . . the producer, ii stead of harassing and i handicapping him. . Australia's finan- ] cial position, and growing obligations, S ! demanded that v-e should export the J [greatest possible r,uantities of meat. In- . ''creased production would not only ensure J 'this, but would, in a perfectly natural 1 i and harmless manner, reduce local prices f also. America wss shipping vast quail- ] I tities of foodstuffs, including meat, to !the United Kingdom and the Continent, ' but, although i>ri-,es there were virtually 'double those cirrent in Australia, the 1 t American Governnient hud not deemed it ! desirable to fix li'.axiinum rates, because J I they recognised that these high values ' wero encouraging I lie greatest produc- j ; tion. As a. miller of fact, the Govern- . : ment had actually guaranteed prices of 1 pork to the producer at highly remuner- ( fltive rates. It was significant that a ' special committee of the House of Com- 1 .irions, which vc is appointed to investigate the result of the fixing of prices in :<the United Kingdom, reported in regard Ijto meat that tiie buying of store stock ' .'was ceasing, and that l>y the. price-fixing I scheme every jiyueement-ia being held !.out to the farmer, to deplete his stocks. .There was no price-fixing of meat in ■ either Canada ur New Zealand. To ! those acquainted with the hardships, | discomforts, ami disappointments of ; -country life, tho reason of Ihe drift of ; population to the city was o.bvious, and , if to this was n be added legislative ''interference, tho drift will continue and ; increase, muck ci.'iinst the best interests : of Australia.