The Taihape Daily Times WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1916. EXPORTED MEAT PRICES.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 13 September 1916, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1916. EXPORTED MEAT PRICES.

AND WAIMAEINO ADVOCKTE ;) With which is incorporated The Tal hape Post and .News.)

Figures and other data-submitted to the general meeting of the Taihape j Freezing Company by the Chairman today, should be sufficiently convincing that something is radically wrong with the arrangements the New Zealand Government lias made and is making respecting the marketing of this country's produce. In no way Tiave New Zealand meat growers stood more advantageously than those of other countries, neither, it is apparent, did they desire or expect :any such advantage, but they had every reason to believe that would not be put into a position more disadvantageous than any other source of meat supply by their wholesouled action in handing themselves over to the mercy of-the British Government. The Government however can scarcely be saddled with, blame in such times as they have had to pass through; it appointed bodies to see that marketing proceeded in a way just to the growers, and it is on these intermediary bodies one must look for the cause of all the improper actions that arc now the subject of the most justifiable, bitter complaints > New Zealand growers, when they handed themselves over, body and soul, so to speak, to the British Government, placed confidence in their own Government through whom negotiations were transacted, to see that no unfair or improper disadvantages were placed upon them, with what result? Who is to blame? It is openely stated in British newspapers that our. ' meat has been less regular in supply on the market, than that from Australia, and even from the Argentine. Why? Australian meat~'has been taken on terms that should fill our farmers with envy and resentment. Argentine meat has always given hugely better returns to the- growers than New Zealand since meat was. commandeered. Why? When commandeering was suggested by the British Government to Argentine farmers that their meat was required for army purpose they re-

, fused point blank to agree to any such proposal, and the Government Representative left them, so it is reported. They then found that all available shipping had been diverted to countries that were amenable to commandeering, and realising their parlous position in consequence, they desired to re-open negotiations. Subsequently, some arrangement was come to but just what that arrangement is no one seems to know The fact is very plain, however, that Argentine growers are almost incalculably better placed than growers in New Zealand. Why, and who is to blame?-i-Argentine meat has been arriving in England more regularly, and it now holds the pla-ce of honour in the Home market, although a much inferor article .. But, coming nearer to New Zealand, Mr Long, secretary of the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company, lias just returned from Australia, and has put an end to suspicions respecting the Home Government's arranged prices for Commonwealth meat. Do our farmers know that Australian farmers are getting five-eighths up to a penny per pound more for wether mutton than they are? Do they know that the same applies, with little variation to ewe mutton, and to lamb? Do they know that Australia is getting from one-eighth to throe-eighths more for all grades of beef, and do they realise the huge amount of mony this means is going to Australian farmers for meat admittedly of not so good a quality as that from New Zealand? It probably, at a rough guess, means that over a million of money represents' the disadvantage that New Zealand farmers have suffered through the neglect or incapacity, or both, of their Government in the miserably disappointing nature of th e arrangements made, whereby they are receiving from fiveeights to a penny less for their mutton than Australia, and so far as can be gathered from Home market reports, there is a much greater disparity with respect to Argentine mutton. Greed and-, exploiting should be revolting to everyone, but we are poor things if we cannot, or do not, fight for our rights,

to have ou r superior meat placed on, at least, an equal market footing with ■that Australia, and the Argentine : wi.th. : Australia ex? Ipire next month, when prices will be Tcvisable, but juo_anc-can. believe from •present market, indications: .{that they ■will be lowered, and it seems to us that .two New Zealand-.politicians, are/going to claim great,,, kudos for doing something that, they should ; have done 'at the beginning of the past season. To ; call 'the. conduct:r'6f' our. nieat' arrangements business should disgust everybody possessed,;rWith a . spark, of business instinct. Our. object in expressing ourselves strongly is not primarily with a .destructive, t; but: rather a constructive intention. Farmers in our territory, must be.jeady to fall into line with farmers in other parts, of, New Zealand, and present a strong front in .opposing the continu:ancc of the insult and "exploitation they, " , :• j)i-« ■ .' < ■-/ '■■,{!;■>'> ■:> n< ■■ ■ ■ •" : - '- '■■ have been subjected to, and, above all, i-t».;-V) ■)■"'•) H- 'VD'iil ..'•'-, ■ -:-r.J:-.' ■ <i - ■ they'must display a wariness of garrjilptis" cajolery such''as is responsible for |the 'nuge loss they "and their country has been-subjected to. We'kno~w-—our Prime' Minister lias told us so—that the talons of the Meat Trust vulture are already deep in New Zealand meat, and whatever recommendations may, be made by men now on their way to Britain, we would urge that na agreement should be entered into unless there is absolute assurance that this country's meat is not placed at any disadvantage, and it should; be made obvious from the outset that any sucli disadvantage or discrepancy cropping up dining the currency of an agreement should be cause for its cancellation. This is a subject of such importance to this country that it cannot be given the exhaustive discussion in a news-, paper article it undoubtedly calls for. Farmers, in their own interests, and in the interests of their country, should not' place too much reliance on promises, no matter who they come from, the tentacles of the Meat Trust octopus are sinuous, insinuating, and very far-reaching, their first touch is gentle, but they fasten on and grip to the death. Hereunder we publish the prices paid for Australian and New Zealand meat, so that farmers may calculate at their leisure what the conductors of their commandeering arrangements have lost for them —taken out of their pockets—and put into the pockets of the exploiting meat vultures in England:—

MILITARY OBLIGATIONS

It is an easy matter to have a sense of duty done and peace of mind under the Military Service Act. It is well to give a final reminder that all men of military age are automatically.' members of the Expeditionary Force Reserve (either Ist or 2nd division), by the fact of the proclamation under the Act, but unregistered men have an obligation to ap£>h- for enrolment. Here, in brief, is the duty of the unregistered:—(l) to fill in an enrolment card, (2) to apply (on the form provided) for a certificate of enrolment. Registered men should similarly apply for a certificate of enrolment, and they must notify change of address if their place of abode has changed since registration. The application for a certificate is not mandatory, but neglect or delay in this matter may bring much trouble, because the police and employers will require the production of the certificate as proof of enrolment. A call at the narest Post Office, where card forms and advice are available free, will clear away all difficulties. It is not enough for a reservist to keep in touch with a recruiting committee; there is a personal obligation on every reservist to comply with the Act. All enrolment cards, applications for certificates and notices of change of address must be addressed to the Government statistician, Wellington. To-day is the time for action by any reservist who has not yet done his duty. A man cannot hope to escape penalties by a plea of ignorance; in all cases under the Act the onus of proof will be on i the defendant. I

COMPARATIVE PRICES. Aust. 1916 N.Z. 1915 WETHER MUTTON Excess G.A, Q. 5gd Firsts 4-|d Id P.A.Q. 5gd Seconds 4|d |d Thirds 5d 0. Weight 4d EWES Id G.A.Q. 5d Firsts 4d Id F.A.Q. 5d Seconds 3|d LAMB l|d G.A.Q, 6gd Downs ogd id F.A.Q. 6jld Firsts 5-1 d gd Thirds 6d Seconds 5|d LEGS ?d G.A.Q. 5gd 5R1 gd F.A.Q. 5gd 5}d Id Thirds 5id o|d OX BEEF • id G.A.Q. 4 |d Firsts 4fd id F.A.Q. 4|d Seconds 4M COW BEEF Id G.A.Q. 4-Jd Firsts 41,(1 |d F.A.Q. m Seconds lid fid ■ These price are paid hj the respective Governments for meat per pound free on board, i