COMMANDEERING OUR MEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1915, Page 8

COMMANDEERING OUR MEAT.

WHAT BECAME OF THE SURPLUS? ELIMINATING THE SPECULATOR. CONFERENCE OF REPRESENTAIVE FARMERS.. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Palmerston North, Thursday.

A very important conference of representative farmers was held at Palmerston North on Wednesday evening, to discuss the whole question of the commandeering of the meat by the Imperial authorities. The meeting was convened by the Egmont A. and P. Association, the question having been brought up by Mr. 0. J. Hawken, at a general meeting of that body, and after discussion it was resolved to circularise A. and V. Associations, Freezing Companies, Fanners' Unions, etc. Though the meeting was somewhat hurriedly convened, there was a representative gathering. Present: Messrs. O. J. Hawken, H. A. Lennon (Hawera A. and P.), R. Masters, A. D. Stanley (Stratford A. and P.), A. E. Symes, A. Howie (Waverler A. and P.), W. D. Lysnar (Poverty Bay Farmers' Committee), N. Jones, (Farmers' Co-operative Organisation), Jas. Knight CFeilding A. and P.), Ewan Campbell (Wanganui Freezing Co.lj W. D. Powdrell (Patea Farmers' Co-op. Freezing Works), Thos. Moss (Wellington Farmers' Union), A. L. Hunt, J. P. Morecome (Farmers' Distributing Co., Wellington),' H. J. Richards (Horowhenua A. and P.), A. H. Waring (Waikato A. and P.), F. C. Stubbs (Dannevirke A. and P.), J. Murray (Woodvillc A. and "P.), and other representative farmers from Wellington and Wairarapa districts, Mr. 0. Hawken was voted to the chair, and Mr. H. A. Lennon was appointed secretary. The chairman said that the reason for going into the matter was because farmers were dissatisfied with the arrangements made, and were keenly anxious to know the outcome of commandeering meat. A price had been arranged with which they were satisfied at the time, and which they still considered a fair one. They thought the meat was commandeered for the army, but when they found that a proportion was to be sold on the open market they, as owners and controllers of the second largest business in the Dominion, were anxious that the. trade should not be injured in any way. He understood that the Government had agreed to appoint three agents, who would dispose of the meat through the ordinary channels and thus conserve the business that had been built up. There had been considerable controversy as to the methods adopted in selling, and a suspicion—maybe unfounded —had arisen that the meat, some of. which had been sent Home without agents being appointed, had been bought by big concerns, thus forcing many retailers out of business and so doing our own trade injury. Some companies doing business in the Dominion were now going more for stock than they could possibly expect to receive from the Government when Bhipped. The par-ite value was beyond what he could understand, unless it was expected that a profit would be received at the other end. If so, an explanation was needed. Commandeering had gone on until the end of the season, and they would make no objection because as patriotic farmers they were satisfied with a reasonable price. When, however, they considered the immense margin between the price which the Government paid for the meat, and at which it was retailed to the British consumer, they were amazed to hear that the British Government had made nothing out of the transaction. They had fully expected that the Government had made a million and a half out of the meat, and they had> looked on that as their contribution to the war. Consequently he considered they had a good right to ask for an explanation. No doubt, a larger sum than usual had to be allowed *the shipping companies for freight. The companies undoubtedly had received great inducements to send their ships to the Argentine where the meat wa3 controlled by trusts, who would be glad to shut us out and so charge the British public what it liked. The British Government, however, had directed the shipping to certain quarters. It was very evident that not only shipping, but other charges, had increased to an enormous extent, and it would take years to bring them back to normal. The British Government in taking our meat and guaranteeing that the . ordinary business channels would not be interfered with had acted as our trustees, and they, through our Government, should let us know what they had done. There Were some farmers who held that they should receive what the meat was worth. The Government had said that the war would be fought out on the resources of the people. It seemed that unless the farmers received, full price, or the consumer got the benefit of the cheap meat, the money would get into the hands of big concerns, mostly foreign, and the Government would not get the benefit of jt. The increased freights would maintain no inconsiderable army at Gallipoli. As they must do their best to get charges down to normal, and so conserve their resources in order to devote the money received from the sale of produce to the. prosecution of the war.

Mr. Hawken then moved that in the opinion of the Meeting it was necessary that the whole question of commandeering our produce and shipping should be carefully and impartially investigated by the authorities, and that a committee be set up to assist and act in the whole matter. In seconding the resolution, Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne), considered that v the matter was an important one, tfhich should be taken up impartially. There was more in it than met the eye, and as patriotic British subjects it was their duty to see if anything had been done that could be rectified. It had been suggested that in a time of war they should leave the matter alone. They could only win the war by conserving their resources. The American meat ring and others were nibbling the best fruits and obtaining larger amounts from the consuming public at Home. On his committee, at Gisborne, there were farmers who had sent their sons to the front, and who would be willing to allow tDe Government to have the meat for nothing for Imperial purposes, but when it came to placing huge profits In tlie hands of certain middlemen they protested. If the Imperial authorities took the meat at a limitation of price and did not want it, it should be passed on to the British public as New Zealand meat at the same price. This would be the grandest advertisement for the Dominion, and the sacrifice would not hurt ua. At present the identity of the | meat wa» lost. It was essentially for

the farmers themselves to suggest a remedy. It had been stated in the British 'Parliament that Australia and New Zealand had formed a ring to Exploit the meat consumer. The AgentGeneral had taken up the cudgels on their behalf ,and must lie backed up. The official statement had been made that beef was required, but not mutton. Why was mutton taken? Referring to the Board of Trade regulations, which said that any surplus must be sold as far as possible through ordinary channels, he pointed out that only the names of the buyers need be disclosed. These again sold to retailers, and it was impossible to ascertain the actual retail price. Referring to the price of beef and mutton on the hoof at Home, he said comment was needless when they considered that the same channels were selling mutton, purchased on the hoof for £5 and beef at £53 10s, whilst a 561b New Zealand wether only netted I the buyer 21s, and a 7501b bullock, £ls. They were receiving 6d and 6%d for their beef—certainly it was said to be secondclass—whilst beef was selling in Francp as high as 2s od. These matters could not be controverted. Sir George Reid had protested against France giving meat contracts to American trusts during the war and for three years afterwards. We were sending our Kith, kin, and treasure to fight the war, and it was time the official realised the position. They should make further representations to the Premier on the subject. He commented on the shipping question, and said that the Imperial Government should continue commandeering meat and should keep New Zealand ships in the New Zealand trade. We had no concern with the Argentine. He understood the Premier had agreed to give the shipping companies an increase of 40 per cent, freight. This would put the farmers in an awkward position when they took over the business again from the authorities. The main question was, however, the huge profit between the Smithfield wholesale and retail price. The Premier had stated that the Government had paid £5,000,000 already for meat. If retailed at the sa®e price as the Smithfield reports they should have received £15,000,000, whereas there was actually a decrease of 15 to 20 per cent, on what they were getting before the war. The Premier had said that the present method would continue. If' so they must endeavour to see that prices were also limited at the other end, so that the consumers in England and allied countries received meat at reasonable price. Those who could not go to' the front could not do better work than see that the wives and families of those who did were not exploited by speculators. They must not shrink from their duty. Why should millions be extracted from the people at Home (Hear, hear). The greatest danger to New Zealand was the multiple shop—foreign owned, and these were shutting out the small retailer and must be prevented from obtaing control. Concluding, Mr. Lysna: said there was a serious congestion of shipping in London, ships being held up for months owing to berths not being available. If diverted to some otner port, they could be speedily discharged. Mr. R. Masters (Stratford), as representing more particularly a dairying district, said that he had the impression that the meat producers had nothing to complain of. They had formed the opininion that the Imperial Government by commandeering the meat were providing bottoms and so relieving the congestion. Since hearing the speakers, he had altered his opinion somewhat. He agreed that the farmer did not object to receiving a fair price as arranged for his meat providing the middleman could be cut out.

Mr. Campbell (Wanganui), considered that without the assistance of the Imperial Government, the works would still be congested, as after pressure from our Government, they had released insulated steamers which were few in number. Some 'had been sent here empty and freight paid on them. He did not blame the farmer for saying that the British Government were welcome to any profit made on the itfeat. The Government were giving a really good payable price, and he would be a hungry man that was dissatisfied. Once the meat was over the snip's side speculation ceased. He thought it would clear away the mists if they had a fair statement that the Government stood in the same place as their agents. Multiple jhops existed before the war, and would exist so long as the people were satisfied to deal. The Government could not interfere with them. In the Dominion there were people with millions at their back, he referred to the Meat Trust, who would make their presence felt more and more. The settler was not feeling them at present, in fact, he was getting a higher price for his cattle, but once they had frozen out the small works they would freeze out the settler as the multiple shops were doing the retailer at Home. He did not consider the present a very representative meeing. The chairman considered that the meeting need not be a final one, but it was necessary that they should be up and doing. The Premier and Sir Joseph Ward were about to go Home, and the farmers should take the matter in hand and make them acquainted with the subject, so that they could resolutely press the farmers' claims. If the public at Home could not receive the benefit then the New Zealand farmer and not the speculator should get the benefit. The resolution was carried,