WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1926, Page 4

WELLINGTON NEWS

BUSINESS MEN A EAR MED. (Special to “ Guardian.”) WELLINGTON. March 22. In New Zealand as well as in Australia tlu> business men prc becoming very much alarmed at the continued interference of the Government in the affairs of finance, trade and industry, Imt there is this difference between the two countries: While in Australia, the leading business men are not afraid to refer to the matter in plain terms, in New Zealand the business men show very great timidity, and as yet then. |ms' been no attempt made U>_ speak their minds. Some say that this is not due to timidity so much as to stupidity and indifference. In private conversation one finds that some business men are fully aware of the dangers but are afraid to say anything for they nl ;;y lose a few shillings by doing so. but the majority of the business men bare not the faintest notion of the mutter and care less for what may happen. It is difficult to know whether such should lie classed as business men or pedlars. 11l Australia there is a Dairy Control Hoard similar to the New Zealand body, but with perhaps less powers, and Sir Lennon Haws, president of the Associated Chandlers of Commerce of Australia, at the annual congress last week, referring to the dairy industry said that tlie problem, m dairying was educating the dairyman to cultivate his land properly, improve the standard of his herds, and feed them properly to increase their productivity. He asked it there was the remotest connection between this problem and the stabilisation sehem.es of export control hoards and bonuses. \\ ere those who advocated such schemes true friends of the dairyman!-' Were they not liL enemies, because they diverted his attention from the real problem!* Ibe object of tlie New' Zealand Control Hoard as far as can be ascertained is to endeavour to stabilise prices; in this it will tail. Wliat the dairyman really requires is education so that he may secure an increased production and so lower his costs of production. The much despised Tooley Street merchant, and tlie dairying division of the New Zealand Agricultural Department have been those really responsible for the great expansion of New Zealand's dairying business. and the future of dairying will depend upon the scope and facilities afforded the dairying division in carrying out its educational work. Many business people are really alraid of the effects of absolute control of the dairy industry as proposed by the Dairy Produce Control Hoard, hut such prefer to suffer in silence rather than to speak out, and therefore deserve no sympathy. However there are likely to lie some new developments alter the .Ministry is reconstructed. A MEAT BATTLE.

The meat millionaires in the JSouth American Trade are engaged in a fierce light for supremacy. British and American Companies are the parties to the warfare and bow it arose and the cause of it are licit indicated. Tn the meanwhile the wholesale prices of chilled am! frozen meats in the Smithfield market have declined but the consumers apparently are not getting the benefit of the drop. The butchers were able to profiteer to their heart's content during (lie war. and thev are unwilling to give up the practice now. If the Food Council's suggestion of a reduction of 2d per lb all round it will have a good effect for it should stimulate consumption. There is very little hope of prices showing any improvement, at least for mutton and lamb because the popular demand is for beef, and of that there is no shortage. .Mutton and lamb will, of course, always meet with a demand, but the supply of beef will prevent any rise in mutton and lamb. We havenot heard much of the Continental trade m bed. and it seem: Ihal sonic Dozen bed intended lor the Continent was diverted to London. The late-L market reports are not verv encouraging. Light North island lamb is limited at 10{d with a. moderate demand. The market for mutton is dull, and such demand as exists runs principally on light weighis. North Island mutton is selling at old to lid and Australia at 4d to -ltd. There is no demand lor New Zealand beef. With the market as dull as it i-. the South American meat companies are engaged in cut throat competition and making the position worse. Wliat, is the .Meat. Producers' Control Board going to do?