WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1926, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS

‘GROUND* (> F IM lIldC FOLK V

(Special to " Guardian.”)

WELLINGTON, -March S.

A great many people, and especially tho business cuininuniiy are wondering when finality is to be reached in rc--j’cet to the question of the transfer d tbo slaughtering license lrom the Wellington Meat Kxport Gov., to iJorthwiek and Sons. It- is known that several interviews hare been held with ilit- .Minister of Agriculture, and the matter was held up until the latter r-.,uld (on.sult the Prime .Minister. In the meantime, the .Ministers concerned have been wandering about the South .Island, but they are expected to be in Wellington this week, when no doubt something definite will he known. I lie "livening Post in dealing with the matter in a sub-editorial points out, that "Grounds ot Public Policy” was the general reason given for refusing Lite License and adds •■ft is l> weeks since that explanation wits given. The public, through the ■ orrcspondoiuv c.iUiinns ol the press, and several of the papers themselves, has made it perfectly clear that “public policy" is insufficiently explicit. To quote Alt' McLeod, speaking in the House of Hepresen Ltd i vo.s on -Meal Trusts: "The question of the policy ol our dealings with it trust with loutish capital invested here is one concerning the integrity and honesty ol the Government ami its iuir dealing with British capital.” Thai i- precisely the wiiy the public i' looking m tins Meal Export— Hold li wick luisi ncu.- look ing mid wondering. It is far from satisfied, lar front convinced that the Government has acted wisely in this matter. In being It'd by the Meat Producer.-' Control Hoard to lake so drastic a -ten its to refuse the translcr m ibis licon-c. ii should lone given more specific rc.o -i.iiis than "public policy.” The public expects those reasons, and it is entitled to have them. considering the importance ol

the principle involved" This is a rcUlarkahlc example of the slogan "more business in Government. Six weeks and no clear explanation, li is obvious that ihe liuamial standing and wide interests of Rmdhwiek and Sons is the stumbling block. The Government is afraid of Mr V> . D. I.vsnar wlm lias already declared that the transfer of the license should not he permitted, and it is also nnxiua.to prevent llortTi wicks competing against vested interests in the fat stock markets. If ilm translcr is definitely refused il is diif'c ub ■■■ know what ,'OUise the cum jin ni can lake* other titan go into liquidation, do irry on in the present depre-sed -.in: <i lim

frozen meat market would be to incur further heavy 10--0-, ami ii is doubtful if fresh capital to carry on can b ■ obtained either from the public or the bank. If Ibe company is forced :nio liquidation it would be a great slur on tin Dominion. It lias not. yet been proved that Bortliwicks is a trust ol the character of the vicious Ann 'icaii trusts. Bortliwicks Have huge interests in the meal, irtde. and their im.-icsis in New Zealand are pretty solid. They

probably run multiple shop and have command of abundance of capital, and possess a thorough knowledge of the meat trade in its world wide ramifications. Do the-e assets and ilcoideil husine-s qualifications constdule reasons for creating them as trading pariahs to he kept out of the country. Bortliwicks arc lug because the limes call for mass product ion and ma ss distributiou. hut- more bigness should no! he regarded as a crime. "Public Policy” demands that linns like Thirl hwicks should he welcomed in their efforts to develop the resources of the Dominion, at all events they are entitled to its much consideration as the German Syndicate with German money that is anxious to develop the mining resources of the country. DKG LINK IK ERODFCTION.

Few people realise that with falling prices for produce there is also the problem of shrinkage in production, ff-. is esi imated that Hie woo! output ibis season will show a cent motion ot at least 50,000 bales. Frozen mutton and lamb will be in short supply because of the unfavourable season and consequently sheepskins and tallow will show contractions. Dairy Produce will show it marked shrinkage. The grading figures iW the 7 months to the end of last month show that 48.700 tons of butter were graded, its compared with 5(1.110 ions in the cnirespomling term of last season, a decrease of 7-110 tons equal to 13.2 P 1 cent. Cheese on the oilier hand shows Dm small increase of 2210 tons equal to 1.9 per cent, the figures being 52.707 tons against 50.491 tons. Inking butter and cheese together the production for the 7 months equals 101.413 tons against 109.013 in the corresponding term ot last season a decrease of 5.200 ions. Expressed in terms of butler fat there is a total (lrreca.se of 3 per colit. ’Tt is this double effect of lower price's and smaller product ion I bat has endangered Ihe pro-peels. A shrinkage of £12.000.0011 il, ihe exports as compared with lad year, with imports expanding nm-i have a depressing effect. That is why there have bom so many warnings ot Ihe uceessily for economy.