THE MEAT POOL.

Shannon News, 4 January 1922, Page 3

THE MEAT POOL.

ABANDONMENT OF EXPORT BUYING THREATENED. A meeting in London of representatives of proprietary companies owning seventeen freezing companies in New Zealand passed a resolution threatening to abandjpn buying for export in (the Dominion unless the full proprietary rights are preserved of meat purchased in the Dominion, with freedom to market and distribute where they please. A largely-attended meeting of Gisborne producers discussed the Government’s proposal for a meat pool, and passed a resolution approving the Government (scheme “as an earnest endeavour to combat the disadvantages of existing conditions and relieve the present unwarranted meat slump.” An amendment favouring a local pool was defeated, and the motion was carried. PUTTING THE POINT ON IT. SOME PERTINENT QUESTIONS. . Mr A .D. McLeod, M.P., writes as follows: As one the committee which investigated the possibilities of a pool, having for its object the relieving of the critical position, the New Zealand meat industry finds itself in to-day, I am sure Messrs. Elgar and Cooper will not object to my asking them a few questions through the Press. The questions are asked in. no captious spirit, but merely to show the difficulties, in the opinion of the Government, surrounding the present and future of the industry. 1. Are they aware that side by side with the hundreds of communications received by the Government and members of Parliament, from producers, complaining of the inadequate steps being taken both by freezing companies and Parliament to relieve the present crisis, there lays a petition signed by close upon 9000 producers, representing nearly one-half the sheep owned in New Zealand, praying that Armours be given the right to trade free in this country? x 2. Will they deny that they strongly supported Parliament’s last year’s Stock Committee's finding that the free admission of the Armour combination was fraught with grave dangers to New Zealand’s interests? 3. Are they still, of the opinion, in face of such petition, and the seething discontent one hears throughout the country against freezing company methods in general, the Government is justified in refusing the petitioners’ prayers, and still allow things to drift on as at present? 4. Are they aware that the same machinery which produced the 9000 signatures is at present being driven at top speed to p i eveiit ahy- Go verninent move, short of granting the

freedom asked 5. Will Mr Elgar, in particular, say, in face of; more than one American inquiry, that much of Ills opinion, as regards the law of supply and demand, has been proved fallacious, as far as the “Big Five” are concerned? 6. Are they of the opinion that competition is entering in the slightest degree to-day into overseas freights for frozen cargo? 7. Is it not a fact that freight concessions, as well as killing-charges concessions, are to-day being extended to certain large exporters of meat? It is my opinion that the present is a time when all cards should be laid upon the table. The Government’s proposals are, I believe, an honest attempt to improve to-day’s position of producers, and at the same time defeat the insidious machinations of American monopolists to control our meat industry (more especially our lamb trade). If the Americans succeed, I have little doubt hut that in a very few years freezing works like those of which Messrs. Elgar and Cooper are directors will either be closed up or killing stock at a rate dictated by Chicago. Mr Massey, as head of the New Zealand Parliament, has, until tiie present, put up a strenuous fight against the tremendous influences used here, in America, and even with the British Government itself, to shift him from the position he took up. If in the fac% (through utTversity) of the attitude to-day taken up by a large section of the producers, Mr Massey finds few among the mercantile and freezing company men to lend him a hand in the fight, then I am afraid our opposition must go by the board. Parliament has done its share. Mr Massey, as he has said, is prepared to put the credit, of the country behind any reasonable proposal having for its object the helping of producers over these dismal days, and at the same time preserving to New Zealand people an industry to which it rightly belongs,