LETTERS TO TH E EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 80, 28 December 1921, Page 8

LETTERS TO TH E EDITOR

THE MEAT POOL Sir,—lt is natural that the proposed meat pool should have early hostile critics: there are bound to be those whose own interests compel them to fight it, and the whole business is so complicated that it is an easy matter for them to put up exceedingly good cases on what are really side issues, and raise little difficulties which can be overcome. Ido not mean to suggest that all those who are at present engaged in the meat export business will be hostile —quite the contrary—or that anyone or any concern, making good profits out of the meat and p oduce business is to be regarded as blameworthy. Many of the meat exporting companies are already in favour of the scheme so far ns the principle is concerned, and have said they intend to investigate it thoroughly.

A scheme which will economise on costs of handling, preparation of the meat, shipping, marketing, means a scheme which will minimise payings-out; and that means that those who have b°en collecting the payments, quite in the legitimate channels of good trade, will naturally be opnosed to the reform —for reform it is. Both the Prime Minister and Mr. Nosworthy have declared that the new move is proposed entirely in the interests of the producer (and indirectly in the vital interests of the Dominion), and if that is so romeone is bound to feel the pinch. However, in' this case sympathy and snnport can only go with reform; the question is a national one; every additional penny of return, every penny saved to the produce- obtains circulation in the country, and means added prosperity and development. The State of Now Zealand depends for the greater part of its revenue unon the income tax and land tax of the producers. and of those who live by business with them directly or indirectly; and our Customs revenue also depends upon our imports, and the recent and present experience shows that when produce does not go awav from New Zealand, or return snffieientlv large prices to build nn our balances at Home, financial complications ensue, our impo ts fall away, and then down comes the Customs revenue. Ttie encouragement of the export trade i<i. I repeat, a vital matter to New Zealand: the revenue of the country and its whole prosperity are inextricably bound up in it. That being so every New Zealander, but particularly the farmers—l am one myself—will be wise to hear all there is to be heard about the new scheme before being swayed by those who are n-e--maturely active in decry ; ng it. The figu-es which the Prime Minister quoted fn the House should convince them that large interfsts are hound to fight the economy pool. Mr. Massey showed that of the AB.ooo.ofto odd estimated value of the year’s meat output, over .£4,000.000 ■went to defray costs of handling, shipping, marketing, etc. He showed, also, how tha multiplicity of consignments added to the expense. I know something of the marketing of our ment in England, and I am aware that it would be foolish to cut adrift from, and render hostile, all the agencies at Home which have been handling our produce in the past, or lose the present distributing channels. Great delicacy is requirwl there. The new arrangement should really prove advantageous to legitimate trade there. But the Minister has already declared that it is intend'd to utilise existing channels at Home where such utilisation Can be fitted into the scheme. It s'ems to me that the most useful aspect of the pool scheme or to put it another way, the placing on the market of Now Zealand meat as one concrete output, is. that the Dominion growers will be in the position in which they should lie—to be as sellers of a good article in a strong position, and to be able to act as such both in regard to the markets and with those who are really dependent upon them in the handling businesses which have g-own up. At present they are not in that position. At present the New Zealand grower is the person who has actually the least say in. the prices which th” stock he raises at so much labour and anxiety brings, and returns to him. Tie has to accept what the man who comes along has to offer him; and the buyer naturally takes advantage tn this respect of local droughts and overstocking.

The time is ripe for any -eforni which can I>e made. Th° outlook cann,of He rendered worse. But it can be made much better.—l am, etc., LEVIN.