WOOL AND MEAT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20052, 26 September 1939, Page 3

WOOL AND MEAT

SALE TO GOVERNMENT OBJECTION RAISED FEAR OF LOSING CONTROL “In my opinion it would be a very dangerous thing for the New Zealand Government to take over our meat and wool; once the Government gets hold of it goodness knows when we would get the control back again,” said Mr. T. Currie at a meeting of tile Wanganui provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, when discussing the proposed commandeer of New Zealand produce for war purposes.

Mr. Currie moved:—“That this meeting of farmers favours meat and wool being sold to the Government of Great Britain, and that the New Zealand Government should merely act as agents for the Government of Great Britain.” He stated that during the last war all the meat was sold to the Government of Great Britain. He knew that the brokers did not favour the meat and wool being sold to the New Zealand Government.

The president, Mr. R, A. Montgameric, said farmers would have to be very careful over the way they gave up their produce, as there was a big difference between commandeer overseas and in New Zealand.

Mr. R. Farley said all the farmers looked for was a fair price, and if there was a profit, they wanted the Government of Great Britain to have the profit.

Mr. R. Campion said that he thought the union was inclined to make itself look foolish in the eyes of the public. They were seeing things that were not there. It would not make the slightest difference which Government took the wool and meal.

Mr. Curie said the Government would ft i'll carry on the commandeer after the war. The president said they could not overlook the fact that they could not be too generous to the Government oi Great Britain, because they had their own hea/y expenses in this country. He was inclined to think it would give the New Zealand Government power which might be detrimental later on. The motion was carried.