BIG BAT DEAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 10, 7 October 1920, Page 6

BIG BAT DEAL

AUSTRALASIAN BEEP SOLD TO VESTEYS MR. MASSEY'S COMMENT SALE HELPS TO CLEAR STORES The cabled report that surplus stocks of New Zealand meat hurt been sold by the Imperial Government to Vestey Brothers was mentioned in the House o'f representatives by Mr. G. Hunter (Wait pawn), who asked if the Prime Minister nad any information on the subject. The matter was of very great importance to the fanners. The- Prime Minister replied that ss had received the following cablegram from the Hish Commissioner:— "An official statement was issued last 'week that the Ministry of Pood had sold the. remaining stocks of Australasian beef, and I received representations from nominated agents, who express serious concern as to the effect of such sale on account of tho diversion of New Zealand beef from ordinary channels. Accordingly, I interviewed the Director of Meat Supplies, and he this morning submitted the following information:— Ministry of Pood. advise that they have sold all New Zealand beef in 6toro in New Zealand t afloat, and in store in the United kingdom, to tho Wcddel Beef Company, Eotterdam. Tho primary object of buyers is for ealo on tho Continent, but they have tho right to sell in the United Kingdom. Arrangements for" additional tonnage arc being made in conjunction with tho Tonnago Committee. This will materially expedite tho clearance of Now Zealand meat, stores. Await allocation of steamers before maldng any further shipments of beef. Tho deal includes Australian and Now Zealand beef. The Wcddel Beef Company is Vcsteys, and tho additional tonnago referred to will consist of Vcsteys' Blue Star steamers. The Ministry expect that the major portion of the beef will bo disposed of outside the United Kingdom, and give na a reason for the Bale the fact that during tho last few months Australasian beef has been selling very slowly indeed. The Ministry's Instruction from, the Treasury was to liquidate as soon ns possible. They coneider .that the action taken is in tho best interests of all concerned, ns this will relieve possible congestion and hasten the return to normal market conditions. lam informed, also, that tho Ministry have sold all cut ewes, which will bo delivered, ex store in Great Britain, for shipment to Continental countries." Mr. Massey, commenting on. this cable gram, said ho hardly agreed with the suggestion that tho action taken was in the best interests of all concerned.. He had received a report from tho. Department of Imperial Supplies stating that 200,000 cut owe carcasses were in the New Zealand stores at the present time. Apparently this meat would go to Vesteys. -I'lie quantity of kef in store in New Zealand was about 8;),C00 carcasses, equivalent to 'one million freight carcasses, or, roughly, 60,000,000 pounds. Tho sale was quite an extensivo one, and he thought that it would be of benefit to New Zealand, since it would facilitate the clearance of the stores, and so make room for the new season's meat. Tho quantity of frozen meat is the stores on September 15 had been 5,091,844 freight carcasses. The quantity to' be loaded in September and October steamers was 1,221,«3, leaving a, balance of 3,870,401 freight carcasses. Allocations for other steamers to bo loaded shortlv exceeded ono million carcasses, and the stocks estimated to remain on November 15 next amounted to 2,785,001 Thcso figures, added the Prime Minister, meant that even without the special steamers referred to in the cablegram, there would bo less than two million freight carcasses in tho stores at tho end of tho year. That would be a better position titan bad been expected. Tho position undoubtedly was improving, and he hoped that it would be quite satisfactory by the time the now season opened. INDENTuReFIABOUR cokiiespondence may be published. Questions have been asked in the House ©f Representatives several times during tho session concerning some correspondence between the New Zealand Government and the British Government on the subject of indentured labour in Samoa. The Under-Secretary for the Colonies was requested in the. House of Commons some hruo ogo to place this correspondence on the table, and he replied that bo was consulting- the Now Zealand Government. Mr. M'Combs (Lyttelton) raised the subject again yesterday. Tho Minister of External Affairs (Mr. Lee) stated that on July 28 last the Government received n cablegram from the Imperial authorities asking if thcro was any objoction to tho publication of certain cablegrams. A reply ha<Lbeen sent to the effect that there objection. If Mr. M'Combs cared to ask for a return containing these cablegrams, the matter would bo considered. Tho 'Minister added that he had little doubt the return would be granted. Mr. M'Combs gave notice to move accordingly. It has been suggested in discussions on this point that the British Government objected to the use of indentured labour at Samca and that the New Zealand Government considered the contiiiued use of this labour to be essential. valuabletoSr rights PEOPOSAL THAT CBOWN SHOJLD PURCHASE. A petition requesting that a Parliamentary Committee should inquire into the feasibility of the purchaso by the Crown of IGOO million feet of timber, the rights for which are held by the Tongariro .Timber Company, Ltd., was yesterday presented to tho House by Mr. P. 1. Hockly (Hotorua). ~_.„. ~..„. Tho petitioners were W. T. Williams, of Hawke's Bay, and three others, who stated that, they were shareholders in the company named above: The company was formed' in 1907 to acquire from Mr. Tudor Atkinson, of "Wellington, a native timber lease or agreement secured by him in 1900. A capital of .£25,000 had Iwn fully subscribed. Tho lease was estimated to comnrise what was probably tho most valunble block of timber now remaining in the, Dominion. The comnaiiv had paid none of the royalties due to tho Native owners for a period of six years, and was in default to the extent of .£27,000. It was also in default in respect to the construction of forty miles of railway from Knkahi on the Main Trunk to Lake Taupo. Tins line was to have been completed by March 1, IDM Tho period had been extended to March 1, 191G, since when there had been continuous default. In order to escane a prohibitive royalty to bo imposed in about '40 years' time the company must cut out about 40,000,000 feet of timbei per annum, which was regarded by the petitioners as a wasteful quantity, from the noint of view both of the lessees and of the nntion. . The conrtol of tho company s affairs by the governing and sole director, Mr. Atki'nson, was unsatisfactory, netitionere further alleged. Mr, Atkinson had found it impossible to raise tho money to construct the railwav, and had declined to negotiate with the Forestry Department, which was anxious to acquire the hinbci concessions on reasonablo terms. For all the above reasons, petitioners asked foi an investigation. The petition was referred to Iho Lands Committee. An enthusiastic audience met Mr. K W. Burn, who was stronriy; anmwrted by his bind of performers at the Sailors Friend Society on Tuci'li'v- Those who contributed'ltems were Mrs. ITowaii, Misbmi Abbott Hccce. fl'insr. J. I'Swip, If, wins, M'lCran and Messrs. Church. Edmonds, Kvana JTOrath, Howard (Atlicnic). W. Howard (Muhana). ■ Miss Ji'heoH was at tho y/iano. "The Balance Against t'-n Drink" was Mr. Moore's temperance srfoloot. Tho prizes came from Thorndo'n and Roscncath. Woods" Great Peppermint Oure, Far Coughs and Golds, neier falla.—AdvL