MINISTERIAL WORDS OF CHEER.

Shannon News, 20 January 1922, Page 3

MINISTERIAL WORDS OF CHEER.

SIDELIGHTS GIV MEAT POOL. A Ministerial visitor to the show yesterday was the Hon. G. J. Anderson, Minister lor Labour, who, with Mrs Anderson, was the guest of the Horowhenua A. and P. Association at .lunch. In the afternoon 'Mr Anderson perlorrned the official opening of the show, being introduced by the president, Mr A. McLeavey. Mr Anderson said he had first of ail to apologise lor the absence of Mr Field, member lor the district, who hoped to be present on People’s Day. The Prime Minister, Mr Massey, was not able to attend that day, and he (the speaker) was present to represent the Government and' open the show. Touching on matters that concerned the fanning community, Mr Anderson stated that the last eighteen months had proved a very difficult period, and.the loss .the farmers were sustaining through their meat business nad biougnt a new line of action by the Government, which, it was hoped, would bring beneficial resuits to the country. (Applause.) Still, in this glorious country there was nothing to compiam of, and judging by the prosperous looking gathering at the show, all seemed to be doing well, and nobody was hard up. (A voice: “Yes tlffire are.”) Mr Anderson: '“Well, 1 don't- see them here to-day.” (Laughter.) The Minister said that there was noi disguising the fact that in order to ! get back to normal times again, we would all have to work hard, and if so the future of our country was assured.' During the last few weeks, he said, for the first time in the history of this country, the Government and the farmers had combined to prevent exploitation in their meat trade, which up to the present was possible through the haphazard way in which litis business was conducted. He instanced the way in which meat was consigned from this country, and. stated that in a recent shipment there were no less than 138 consignors, some of whose consignments were assmall as 12 carcases. That so.rf of *nnig was playing right into the oands of the big combines, and meant a loss of money to the farmers. Hence die necessity for the meat pool, il tins could be made a success of, it would be sometiung which the Government and the country could be proud of—that of tackling the big V.ombines that existed in the big markets of the world. He contended that fue action far taken had brougnt good results. Our iamb bad advanced m puce, butier and cheese bad improved, also woof, and the outlook generally was brighter. The people only■ required to stick it out, and me prosperous times of the past wouiu return. But those times were not going to return in 10 minutes. Nothing mat was lasting .grew last—it- was much better toffire slow and solid like the oak. Mr Anderson stated that he was Minister in charge of the Labour Department, and he was doing what he could to bring about an era oi stability and get rid of the fictitious conditions that existed m the cuuxnry to-day. He was introducing a inn m the House' with this object, and it it did not pass, there would be a new Minister of Labour wanting. .The country would have to recognise mat it bad to get down to bedrock belore it could build, up again, and this applied to laud a-s well as wages and everything else. Mr Anderson stpd lie wished to congratulate the people of the district on the excellence cl their show. The stock, lie considered, was oi exceptional merit, though the finer, breeds were not quite suited to the south, where fie came from. Down there the hardier breeds of cattle, such as the Shorthorns, were more popular. Up in the north, nature was kind in providing a congenial climate, ol which they had a beautiful example that day. There was no doubt it helped very much towards the success of the show. 1-Ie had pleasure indeed in wishing the residents every good luck 'for the future, and every success lor the show, which he then declared open. '