COMMANDEERING PRODUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1916, Page 2

COMMANDEERING PRODUCE.

HIGH COMMISSIONER'S VIEWS, TENDS TO DKSTUOY TRADE, SUGGESTED ALTERNATIVE. Cable Association. London. Sept. 2S. Sir T. Mackenzie, in an interview, said lie did not regret the inn-conclusion of the contract between the Imperial and New Zealand Governments for the purchase of cheese, on the ground, firstly, that it was unfair to commandeer the produce of one part of the Empire while others were Allowed the free run of the open market, and could get better prices; secondly, that commandeering tends to destroy the trade wlikh it takes years to build up, and diverts trade to Americans and others. Apparently some misappreiiliension with regard to meat exi-ts in New Zealand. It is not clearly realised that when the. meat is sold "it becomes the buyer's property. A committee, of which he wa.s a member, framed a policy for the sale and distribution of the surplus through Sinithfield in such a.way as to secure its distribution through the preivarehannels, so as to conserve, as far as possible, previous trade connections. The committee wa.s not in i position to stipulate as to selling meat on a standard grade, nor to allow claims in respect of meat not up to the, quality. In reference to speculation, Sir T. Mackenzie points out that the Board of Trade agents were allowed ?. per cent, commission on sales, and firr/.s supplying retailers were only allowed y»d per lb on the prices paid to the Bowl oi Trade. Searching investigation hits failed to show any speculation, nor had the position of any member of the committee been used to further the advantage of himself or others. While the Board of Trade fixed the wholesale pi ice of our meat, British, Argentine, and other meats were not, interfered with. The retail prices are entirely uncontrciicible, which operates to our disadvantage. .Retailers, being able to buy our meat at a comparatively lower rate, can a fiord to give a higher price for the free meat; thus the one-time, inferior Argentine lamb has realised 2%d per lb more than New Zealand.

The only alternative is for the New Zealand producer to make up his mirid to sell outright to the Home authorities and accept the subsequent fate of his meat, or send it on consignment, giving the Board of Trade the fust option for Army purposes, the surplus to be placed 'on the open market. In the latter caie there is a possibility of freight trouble. . Sir T. Mackenzie is endeavoring to secure the abolition of the practice of deducting certain weights, which means a saving of 21b per .sheep and lib per lamb