MEAT COMMANDEER

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 103, 26 January 1920, Page 6

MEAT COMMANDEER

TO CEASE ON JUNE 30

BRITISH GOVERNMENT DECLINES NEW CONTRACT

PRIME MINISTER REVIEWS

SITUATION

The Prime Minister has received a cablegram from the Secretary of Stato for the Colonies advising that the Imperial Government has decided not to enter into any further contracts for tho purchase of meat after June 30 next. The cablegram also states that regarding wool and dairy produce a reply to Hie New Zealand Government's inquiries will be sent as soon as possible.

MR. MASSEY'S OPINIONS

THE ACCUMULATIONS IN STORE.

The Prime Minister gave by way of interview to a Dominion reporter somo of lift opinions on the new situation. , "Tho decision of the Imperial Governmont was not unexpected," said •>"'. j Jfassey. 'Tor some time past tliero have been indications which went to show that the British Board of Prndo did not intend to continiio Uie commaiuter bcvoml tlio end of the present term. U will now be necessary for the producers to make the necessary arrangements for placing their meat on the British market on their own account, and the onlv difficulty in til way is the fact that so far as it is possible to judgo there will be at the end of the present year (which really means the beginning of next season) a eonsubrable quantity of the British Government's meat remaining in the cold stores, My estimate is that in tho period from January 1 to June 30 six million carcasses will l-.o placed in the cold stores. That, with tho quantity in store.on December 31 (approximately four millions), will mean that there will be not less than ten million carcasses for which to provide shipping space- I doubt if this can be done in one year. I think the most that we can expect to have lifted will be eight million, leaving a carry-over of two million' to he handled in the 1921 season, and for this special arrangements will have to be made so that it will not interfere any mow than can be helped with tho shipment of the new season's meat, which *ill be coming in at that time. Tho problem should not be incapable of ralution, and I do not think that we shall find the Imperial authorities unreasonable. Personally I should have liked the meat commandeer to continuo for another season, but wo Iwvn got to do tho best with the position ,-s it exist", and I would suggest that the Board of Agriculture should take the initiative in doing whatever may be necessary. I need hardly say the Government will give every assistance possible.

Commandeer Goad for New Zealand. "I have no doubt farmers' unions nnd other farmers' organisations will thoroughly consider the very important change which they will have to meet and deal with at the commencement of the 1920-21 season. The arrangement the end nf which is now in sight lias been sometimes adversely criticised, hut, on tho whole, it has worked well. Ono thins is quite certain: that without the Imperial Government taking the responsibility of providing ships it would have been impossiblo to get our products awaj, nnd it requires no stretch nf imagination to realise what that would have meant, not only to the producers but to the whole of the population of this country. We have to remember, too, that tho cost of the ment to the Imperial Government was very greatly increased by the immense Bums paid for cold storage when shipping was scarce or not obtainable, by the interest on tho advances of 75 per cent, on the value of the meat for most of tho time whilst it was in store, nnd nlsb by the _ loss of some thousands of carcasses which became mouldy nnd unfit for human consumption through be'ng kept too long in store. It is only right that trade should gel back to normal, now that we are emerging from war conditions, but when we a.rn able to lnok back upon what has been done for us by. the Imperial Government, I sra quite certain that nil reasonable people will admit that we have been exceptionally well treated.

The British Policy. "[ nm fw.y that; nn account of Hie delays which liave Teectitly occurred in British ports in discharging cargoes from Now Zealnnd and Australia several of the. ships which worn intended to load here in February will not he able to keen to tl'oir expected dates. 1 trust, however, that the delay will not lie such ns tn canso congestion and consequent inconvenience nt this end. And here let me say that I cannot understand tho policy of the British Food Control Department in keeping up the prices ' for meat to snr-h an ,ex.tpnt ns to interfere seriously with consumption, and that apparently is what has taken place. Two years ago a verv high price was hems maintained, so that by pooling supnlies and keening prices to o. sum>i»ntly high level n 1os? on tho United States nurohascs was avoided. So far ns I haveheen able tn learn nurchnses from the States ceased some time ago. so there is nn occasion for that sort "f thing I have seen it Miegpstcd that it i" being done for the benefit of the British farmer, and possibly that is the ease, though the wonder is that the consuming population put up with it.

Wool and Dairy Produce. "A telegram from the Secretary of Stare says that a reply with regard to wool and dairy produce will be sent as soon as possible. I think that the wool commandeer will also come to an end at June 30. By tho way, a communication viu received in December stating that the amount of the 50 per cent, profits duo up to March 31, 1038, would probably be finally determined and available about Ihe middle of the present month, and that steps were being taken .to expedite completion of the returns to March 31, 191!). No further information has, however, come to. band, though I hardly think it will be much longer delayed. But coming back to the possibilities of the Imperial Government desiring to go on with the commandeering system, my own opinion is that they will not euro about purchasing any other product than butter, which is undoubtedly scarco and dear in Britain at the present date, though what the price will be like by tliis time next year (and it will be nearly that date before tho new season's butter reaches Britain) no one ran predict.

British Wool Control. "There are enormous stocks of wool in Britain and tho overseas Dominions at present, but the Department which controls this article is apparently placing just sufficient on tho market to meet tb» immediate requ'renients of the clothworking industry, and this is keeping up the value of the raw material. No doubt this is a profitable policy for the Department, but I doubt whether it is a wise one. There arc possible complication? in prospect. Next season's Australasian clip will probably go on to a free market, and be sold in Hie usual way; but supposing the British Government owns then even half of the wool they own at present, what will happen? Will it come into competition with our wool? I don't think for one moment that they would do anything unfair to us or against, their own interest, but this stoiing up of huge quantities of wool suggests very serious and very awkward possibilities.

Not Pessimistic. "I believe that I understand the dilliuiltiw, or most of thorn, that, we shall bo called upon to faco, but I am not by any means pessimistic. Britain can take all tho meat, wool, and dairy produce that wc can send, and a great deal more. It is my opinion that with a good market we can produce much more than we have raised up till tho present.

Shipping—A Warninn,

"There, are other questions to.be considered besides those I have mentioned— that of transport, for instance, Wo must

hr.vo snfiicient shipping lo carry our produce) to Hid markets of the world, and ut reasonable fre gilts. There must he no exploitation. If these conditions ran bo met, veil and good. IF not, we shall have to dn the next best thing. Let it b-j remembered, that we can load even uow one hundred big ships of 10,000 tons in one year with New Zealand products. That is a business worth catering for, and the business is growing, mid will continue- to grow. It is for the coinparies- trading to New Zealand to do the right thing under the circumstances that have arisen. 'Live and let live' is a good motto, and if acted up to will save a deal of trouble- ui the future.

Union is Strength. "In the meantime we must avoid dissension. There are factors at work now to create jealousy and friction. I feel confident that wc shall have the .American Meat Trust renewing their ettorls to obtain a footing in this country—efforts which I hope will be unavailing. I trust that wo shall be aide to stand together, work for ourselves and one another, and so make certain that individually mid collectively we shall reap the- reward of our industry."