The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1917. FROZEN MEAT HELD UP.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 1 February 1917, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1917. FROZEN MEAT HELD UP.

(With which is incorporated The Taihape Post and Waimarino News).

Shipping troubles are rapidly assuming a, dangerously menacing aspect at the various ports of the Dcminion, more particularly so at Wellington. An abortive conference was held the other day between shipowners and waterside workers. It tended to make matters worse, simply because parties went to confer predisposed to

grant nothing nor to agree to anything other than what then obtained. We can scarcely believe that the interests of the producing community are to be left, by the Government, at the mercy of two parties on the waterfront. There is serious prospect of the meat freezing industry being again held up through shipping troubles. Companies that can double their total capital with the profits on one year's earnings would no doubt like the Government to put cargo aboard, man and work their ships free of cost, in addition to being compelled to pay a thousand or two per cent, more than the fair and honest charge for freight. On the other hand waterside workers would not object to receiving a little of the consideration that shipowners are avariciously pocketing. But while this disgraceful, unseemly sparring is going on between shipowners and workers, the country is faced with serious consequences as a result. How long is our Government going to stand by and allow it to continue? Are producers to be eternally at the mercy of the shipowning exploiter and the waterside worker? i s the trade of the whole country to continue year after year to be most detrimentally affected by the squabbles for higher and still higher profits between these two shipping gangs? Meat is being thrown back on freezing works, and ships are leaving our shores short-freighted simply because those shipowners and waterside workers will not agree to hpre the mvn-irh'V of exploitation to -ach other'? f-nlisfacrion. It is un•hinkablet'M the Governm<uit w : ll al"■w sueh • -■-■"-v;t:<. • fc-> continue. I f be men r- , n i : •:,,■■>- justly d^n I '- itli, then i . (-■!-.-. concern of the country <o r.^,..,..,, --w is right. The 'ion were •■■-—r" ••'■ the shipowners "-. agree}: ' them in confernce, ;•'•■ •:•. ■ "lMnc them point'lnnk ih- - • r -ev to deal with ho subj'"'- ' - •.-ir-'' they were call- ■' to^et l , ""he old agree- ■•"' "O new one '-ke the •, continue to

work on arrangements that were made

a year or two ago. But are shipowners content to continue to carry on at prewar freights, or anything near them? It is annoying and exasperating to have our produce held up but no arrangement made for facilitating shipping that is not just can be lasting or something to be depended upon. It is the duty of the Government to step in and give all parties to understand that our produce must be got away and that avaricious bickerings will not be allowed to operate to the contrary. The unconcernedness of farmers about the shipping of their produce is amazing. There seems io be no care for what happens; their attitude is a gamble of the most extreme character. The chances are taken without a word being uttered as to whether there is shipping or no shipping. Now is the time to howl and make provision, but there seems a tendency to let matters drift and trust to what turns up. Some talk has eventuated and some leading farmers have advanced proposals, but their seed has fallen on barren ground, and the only prospect is that the present trusting to chance will continue till the end, that is, till the great question has been fought cut between shipowners on one side and the whole of the workers of the Dominion on the other, in a great strike that will disastrously affect every man. woman, and child. The dilatoriness vl the Government leaves no other hope.