WELLINGTON NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1924, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES

TAXATION COAIAITSSION. (Special to “Guardian”.) WELLINGTON, April 7. Considerable curiosity is being evinced in the City, at the moment of writing, as to the personnel of tho Prime Minister’s proposed Taxation Commission. Apparently, besides tho Chairman, Air Justice Sim, four members are to he appointed, and it is suggested that Mr Massey is touring the South Island with tho object of finding two suitable men, from the Government's point of view. Air Massey does not get much credit for appointing a Supreme Court judge as Chairman of he Commission, it being held that the object at the back of this appointment is to ensure rigid adherence to the order of reference. A layman would he apt to allow some latitude, hut a judge is not likely to allow' any divergence from the strict interpretation of the references. The personnel, apart from the judge, is bound to consist of liicu of known opinions, at least, that is the opinion expressed in the City, hut a good deal depends upon the order of icferencc. This should he wide enough to embrace every phase of taxation, hut that is not at all probable. Tlie business men of tlie City are inclined to the opinion that the order of reference will he so circumscribed and restricted as to result in Mr Massey saving his face. A BUCKSHEESH TRIP.

AH David Jones, the Chairman of the New Zealand Producers’ Board, is leaving for England in connection with Aleat Board business, which means that Mr Jones is to have a world trip at the expense of the producers. Those interested in the meat trade in Wellington are wondering when tho touring mania of the Board is to end AVlien first established, the vicc-Chair-man, 1 Mr Jessop, was sent to England, and he had hardly reached his destination when the Secretary of the Board Mr Lee, followed him. Subsequently the General Manager, Air Fraser, took lo the trail going via the Argentine, iml finally Alt- R. Forsyth went to London to stay, as tho representative >f the Board. These jaunts, must have •ost a considerable amount of money

and one would have thought that tli< General Manager, who has had experience of meat works and Air Jessop who is,the Chairman of a meat com-

pany, would have exhausted the subject of inquiry. No liu.sine.ss house ’ would squander money in this way, hut unfortunately the Aleat Board is a political organisation, and the absence o! the Chairman from the Dominion during the coming session of Parliament is probably considered desirable in tin view of the certainty that the sale of the Poverty Bay Aleat Works to Vestoy Bros, will he discussed in the House. MEAT TRADE POSITION. From the Aleat Board to tlie meat trade i.s an easy step, and it is not too much to say tliat many of tho freezing companies, particularly in tho North Island, are in a parlous condition. Prices of mutton and lamb, in the London market, have declined rather sharply recently, and it is claimed that the companies are losing somewhat heavily in consequence. The factor dominating the situation is not so much the drop in values, as the over-supply of freezing machinery. A big turnover in the season is necessary, if a freezing company i.s to make profits, hut with tho excess machinery (here is not the fat stock available to keep the machinery employed at capacity, the. consequence being keen competition lor •at sheep and lambs. Local prices are above. London purity,, and an adjustment cannot be made, because the strong companies are willing to pay the I rices to maintain their machinery at work, and the smaller and weaker companies must do likewise.or cease operations. When the season) ends there will he smile washing up to he done, and perhaps liquidation may lie the only solace for some of the concerns. DEPRESSION IN BUTTER. A Wellington merchant, deeply interested in the export butter trade, expressed the opinion that the dairymen of the Dominion must make up their minds for a lower range of values. His opinions are based on the statistical position of the produce.. In the year l!)2l the imports of butter into the United Kingdom totalled 3,523,970ewt. of which 2,381',GU0 cut., was obtained from the' Southern Hemisphere, and 60,407 cut. from other countries. In 1923 tho imports totalled 5,125,297 cwt. of which Europe and the United States contributed 2,297,033 cwt. the Southern. Hemisphere, 2,171,6-16 cwt., and other countries 657,21 Scwt, in the latter being included .shipments from Russia. The increase from Europe last year as compared with 1921 was 91-5,343 cwt.. and, from all accounts, there will he another substantial increase this season. ](\ is authoritatively stated that- Siberian butter will come on to tlie London market this month, and it is reported by a London paper, devoted to refrigeration, that Russia is expected to ship 21,590 tons of butter this year. These are his reasons for holding the view that a lower range of values must rule. Dairymen can meet the situation by taking steps to reduce costs of production and improve the quality of the product.