OUR PRODUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 July 1917, Page 6

OUR PRODUCE.

IMPORTANT STATEMENTS BY MR. MAvSSEY. SKPmG FACILITIES FORTHcoming. NEXT SEASON'S CHEESE - PUBCHASED. Pukekohe, July 9. Sams important statements in regard to the outlook for producers in New Zealand, and the prospects of improvein the supply of ships, were made by the Prime Minister at ft banquet tMs evening. Mr. Massey said that at present about B quarter of a million boxes of batter were lying in the oold stores of the Dominion. The Government had been in communication daring the past few wee&s with the shipping authorities, and to-day be received a communication from the head of the Imperial Supplies Department in Wellington, stating that he had succeeded in obtaining space for SO,ooft boxes of batter in shiips leaving during July and August. Portion of this space would be available to relieve congestion in Auckland. It was painted out in the telegram that the Imperial Government so far bad not allowed batter to be shipped as priority cargo. Mr. Massey added, however, that fast week, when he had a conference with the Overseas Shipping Committee, he stated that he was prepared to accept responsibility for placing 50,000 or GO,OOO boxes of butter on .board the ships, in order to relieve congestion. He did not; know whether the Imperial Government would put him in gaol for this or not, but he was prepared to accept the risk. (Applause.)

XHE CHEESE OUTPOT. Mr. Masscv said he had also received a communication from the British (Board of Trade authorising him to enter into negotiations with the producers of the Dominion for the purchase of next season's cheese output. He desired to obtain a fair |>rice for the producers, in view of the increased cost of production, but there should be no endeavor to screwthe last shilling out of 'the Imperial authorities. In regard to ships, he said that shipbuilding was going on satisfactorily, but at least half of the British mercantile marine has been required to carry supplies to the forces of the Empire" and of our Allies. He remembered whilst in England sending a cablegram to the acting-Prime Minister, stating that he ibelieved the shipping position I would improve after July. Some/people had considered that he was too optiI mistic, but he was now able to make an announcement which, would -shoiw he was not far wrong. He stated that information had been received to the effect that the ■position would be materially improved during the next three months. He felt that this would .be satisfactory news to the producers of the Dominion —(hear, hear)—as, if what 'was promised was carried out, the shipping position for next season would be practically met. Ships %ould not be able to carry away the whole of the frozen products, but would make way for the next season being commenced without any serious deficiency. The Imperial authorities now treated ■ Xew Zealand very well. They had done their best to keep the armies supplied, and had been aible to get all the meat required from countries less than half the distance of New Zealand from the heart of the Empire. Apparently they had been aile to build up a sufficiently safe reserve to allow them to send more vessels to the Dominion. Mr. Massey said he had no doubt it would be possible to arrange a fair price for cheese.

MEAT AND WOOL. The prices for moat until the end of -the war had. already been arranged. There was no doubt that Britain would again want our wool, and the price probably would be the same as that of last season. If it wanted our wool it would also want our hides and sheep skins; god that meant all tho principal portions of the Dominion's produce. Last season the Imperial Government took delivery of wool here, and the greater part of last season's clip had gone. He hoped tho same arrangement would 'be made tor next season.

THE POST-WAR OUTLOOK. Referring to the post-war outlook, Mr. Maasey said the prospects for the producers were very good. Indeed, tne preseut tremendous demand for wool, lor instance, would continue after the war. On all the lighting fronts at preseut probably there were twenty million men, including the armies of the Allies and the (mitral Powers. These men were now all in Uliaki, etc., and when the war was over these men would want to get into other clothing, into the composition of which wool largely entered. He did not think there would be famine pricas, but producers would get good returns. He believed the demand for meat, butter and cheese also last after the war. Mr. Massey said he hoped that when the soldiers came back the producers of the Dominion would be encouraged to produce a great deal more than they ever did before. They must noc -forget that they were going to have in enormous load of debt, and that money must be found to meet interest and sinking fund charges. Unless we increased production, we must be prepared tj face a time of depression. In order to avoid that we must increase our output and our exports. He had a great deal to do with the present policy of the Imperial Government, which was to make the Empire self-supporting and self-contained by producing all the foodstuffs and raw materials required for the Empire's purposes. This was the policy of to-day, and it was a pity it had not been adopted twenty or twenty-live years ago.

PREFERENTIAL TARIFFS. Mr. Massey then referred to the question of the system of preferential tariffs within the Empire. For some years the Dominion had given preference to Britain, but she had not given reciprocal preference. He had no fault to find with that, as it had taken all our produce without charging any duty. It, however, had done the same thing for Germany, and all other enemy and foreign countries, but it would not do it any more. Britain could not allow the goods of enemy countries to continue to come in on the same terms as goods from the overseas dominions. In England there was a tremendous and a growing feeling in favor of the new policy. Even in Mwnhmtur, tto gout bra* sJ Crtiui-

ism, the movement had obtained a strong | hold. - | The possibilities of another form of 'preference were also touched upon by Mr. Massey. It was probable that hy the co-operation of all the countries of the Empire a vast improvement in the shipping service would be secured. The British Government might, in connection with the great trade routes to the different portions of the Empire, subsidise suitable ships with low rates of freight for the benefit of the producer at oue end and the consumer at the other. He believed that would be done. It was part of the present policy of the Brtiish Government. They must make the best of the great ocean highway at our disposal. They should discriminate in regard to port dues, between British ships and foreign vessels, always remembering, of course, what was due to our allies.