OUR PRODUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 215, 1 April 1913, Page 8

OUR PRODUCE.

ITS DISPOSAL AT HOME. STATEMENT BY SIR JOSEPH WARD COMTSATTEI). By Telegraph-—Press Association. Timaru, Last Night. Mr. W. I). Lysnar, who is *it present in Timaru furthering the interests of the New Zealand Producers" Association, replied in an interview with a Herald representative to-day to statements made in London by Sir Joseph Ward, in which he said that New Zealand producers had no right to dictate to Home buyers how New Zealand meat may be disposed of, once it had passed out of their hands. Mr. Lysnar said: "Sir Joseph Ward very evidently, did r.oi understand the position at all. There was no question of dictating by New Zealand producers. All they wanted was to be placed on equality with the exporters of meat from other countries who under existing conditions are able to get nearly twice as much for their mutton as New Zealand . producers, though it . was admitted that New Zealand mutton was equal to the best Welsh. Sir Joseph himself admitted that, yet said in effect that New Zealand producers had no right to try to get a price somewhat approximating to that given for Welsh and Scotch mutton. In thus speaking against the interests of New Zealand farmers, Sir Joseph is not showing himself the true patriot he is generally looked upon as being." Mr. Lysnar quoted figures for 1011 (the latest he had) to show fhat the difference between wholesale prices paid for English and Scotch as compared with New Zealand mutton meant a loss of £3,157,180 to New Zealand farmers. Surely they should not tolerate such a state of affairs any longer,than they could help, even though Sir Joseph appeared to wish them to do so. Tn addition to this loss on meat they were losing heavily also on dairy produce.