THE MEAT POLL.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 December 1921, Page 4

THE MEAT POLL.

WANGANUI, December 29.

Mr AY. -T. Dclsmi, president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union v.rites as follows in reference to the meat pool:

“Until they have an opportunity of , examining the Government’s proposals , in connexion with the establishment of j a meat pool, I would urge mcuihcis oi { the Farmers' Union to refrain limn | signing the petition which is being cir- j ciliated throughout the Dominion with a lavish disregard for expense that is in itself significant This petition demands that the Government shall not interfere with the right of the farmer to sell his stock in any way that he may think (it. Canvassers are suggesting to farmers that it is the Government’s intention to prevent the sale ot fat stock in local sab-yards or to butchers. I am familiar with the Government’s proposals, anti i say i-niphati- i eally that such ridiculous provisions j were never dreamt 01. Ihe Government is anxious to assist producers at the other end. and is proposing to set up a hoard with a strong finance behind it, to prevent producers being exploited. The whole question will be submitted to a conference of all producing interests shortly, and lully tliieslu-d out. In the meantime those who sign the petition referred to are only playing into the hands of the opponents of the Government’s proposals, -and by their action condemning wlml they have had no opportunity of studying.”

GISBORNE OPINION ADVERSE. GISBORNE. December 29. The «onelusion reached by the directors of till' Gisborne Slu-epfarmers' Frozen A lent and Afercuntile Company in iaspect to the Government’s proposal for a compulsory meat pool is embodied *i the following resolution: The direeti's of the Gisborne Sheepfarmers Frozen .Meat and Alcrcantih Company, having considered the Government- reports lor national pool oi frozen incut, unanimously resolved : (ll That the experiment is not justified. and will not succeed and its failure must react upon the producers, wild will inevitably be called upon l<> foot the bill. (2) That Government intervention without practical experience is alw y> unfortunate. (3) That the charges to he saved will not, in practice In- so saved. Such caving has not lus-.it moved and is ifieapable of proof. (ll That all the objectimis to the present system of private dealing and shipping entailing damage and mishandling and difficulty in freight conditions ear be got over if the shipping companies in terms of tlie existing contracts, interchange freight scan- at the outlying ports, and if individual companies with lh" friendly eo-operation of the banks and nu-ieantile houses pool minor lots. (-T) That to displace all existing arrangements which have been standardised over many years, is sure to bo adverse to the interests of the produe-

(6) That: all realisation of meat, in Great'Britain is in the hands of established agencies whose assistance, where not enlisted, will he lost and their «n----t-rgies directed to channels adverse to New Zealand producers. (7.) That controlled meat- applied only to New Zealand while tlie output of Australia and tlie Argentine is left free may result in loss to New Zealand, the Dominion trade being placed at a known disadvantage.