The Daily News. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1917. OUR PRODUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1917. OUR PRODUCE.

The remarks recently made at Auckland by Mr. Massey, to a press reporter, relative- to the requisitions by the Imperial Government of the Dominion's produce, and the arrangements for handling the season's output, should be of great interest to Taranaki farmers, although there was little in (he statement that was not generally known, except the unwelcome news that efforts tn induce the Food Controller at Home to make a short advance on the supplies of batter and cheese going into store this month had failed. It is, however, satisfactory to learn that it is practically certain the details will all be settled shortly, and that by the end of next month the Imperial Government will have taken over part of the produce, for which the money will be immediately available. Now that the Imperial Government has taken over the control of shipping it may be presumed that a satisfactory organisation will result in the clearance of the Dominion's at a greater rate than has been the ease, but even with an acetl-ration there must inevitably be a very : ;yge amount held in storage. This has necessitated a very considerable addition to our cool stores, and this now provision will, when complete, allow of an extra 1,332,700 sixty-pound carcases to be held, but as the equipment necessary for this enlarged capacity has to be obtained, its installation is entirely dependant on its arrival in the Dominion, hut the Premier considers a very large proportion should be available this season, and it is to be hoped 'his expectations will be realised. There seems to be not so much difficulty in getting awny cheese as other produce. The figures given by the Premier as to the quantities of cheese, butter and wool exported for the year ending October 31 last indicate that large supplies have been exported, and considering the shoring of shipping, together with the fact that the nearest exporting centres to Britain would naturally have the advantage, the producers of the Dominion mar well feci thankful that the quantity sent away was as large as the figures disclose. They have to recognise that this is waT time, aggravated by a submarine campaign that is trying to starve Britain into submission. Although the Premier did not disclose the prices that had been fixed after most protracted negotiations he indicated that they were slightly bettor than most people imagined. What he means by that it is impossible to conjecture, hut the producers have a' very good notion as to what the prices will be and they are not likely to be greatly perturbed when the secret is disclosed. There was no good purpose to be gained by Mr. Massey stating that responsibility for providing sufficient shipping to take the produce to Britain would be placed on the Imperial Government. It is so evident that it did not require to be mentioned. The producers do not want to know who is responsible. What they want is payment for their produce when it is ready for shipment, and if this is secured without any undue impost in connection with storage accommodation they should be satisfied. The decision of the Government to advance £5 per crate on cheese and £3 per box on butter to enable the dairy companies to meet their obligations i 3 far more to the point, especially in the case of the small farmers. It is a serious matter for the hard working dairy farmers to be kept waiting for their cheques. Many of tile difficulties could have been avoided had the negotiations been completed some months earlier, as they well might have been if both the Home and Dominion Governments had adopted the right

course. However, it is probably unreasonable to expect busincs.i mailers to go like clockwork in war time. Under tiie | abnormal cimin>.>fanc;s the best is leing | (lone tu deal with the nia'.tiU' as fairly las iiossible and anyjitl'e inconveniences should be cheep-ully j, orne . y\ lu ,„, ( . cij . sily for providing additional s torags space will probably prove of great service in the future and enable the producers to get bettor prices as well as meeting the needs of the production which should fake place alter ll le wur \ s over. The dominion (iovernment has had and will have many anxious moments 'di|ing the continuance of the war, and the producers may well bear this in mind and be grateful for the assistance rendered in the disposal of their wares. The iarge increase in the meat in store this month as against the corresponding period last year (2,000,000 as aganst 161,311 carcases of 00 lbs) is a great handicap wherewith to start the season ,but even this can be overcome in time without serious loss. If the relative conditions existing in Britain and the Dominion are compared it will be found that the advantage is all on the side of the Dominion. This fact should go far to reconciling our producers to their present troubles which are but molehills in comparison with mountains in the Homeland.