MEAT POOL.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1922, Page 2

MEAT POOL.

Canterbury motions.

lUY XhLKQUAI'H— PKH PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 9. At a, meeting of the Chamber of Commerce held to consider the Meat Pool Scheme, the following resolution wan carried: -“That this meeting of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, having considered the scheme of the Government Compulsory Meat Pool, as announced by the Prime Minister urge s the following serious objections to the proposals and begs that tne Government will not introduce legislation to force this scheme upon the country as: (1) It is against the best interests of the producer that he should be deprived of free competition and of the right to sell his fat stock how and where he will. (2) It is unjust that the exporters should be compelled to sell, through an ’loffiaial or semi-official pool, all the meat they may buy, or else go out of the business altogether. (3) It is inadvisable that the commercial reputation of New Zealand should be jeopardised by the State lending its assistance to ill-considered and revolutionary changes in -tlie accepted methods of trading, such as this compulsory meat pool. ’ “This chamber fully understands Die difficulties and embarrassments of New Zealand producers owing to the British market for frozen meat having declined, in sympathy with the worlds markets, for all other goodstuffs and commodities. It recognises that the costs of freezing, freight, railway rates etc., remain disportionately high, mainly owing to high wages. It believes that the values of land (which togethei with costs were extravagantly inflated during the last few years of abnormnllv high prices for produce) must be written down l>cfore many producers can hope to make a living, and it suggests an enquiry on this subject by competent authorities. It urges the exporters of frozen meat from New Zealand, and its importers into Great Britain should be officially requested iby the Government to offer the advice they are best qualified to give upon the objects which the Government has desired to achieve by the unfortunate scheme now before the country.” Another motion was carried viz.: “That this meeting is against any Government control of the meat trade.