WIRE AND WHISKY.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1918, Page 8

WIRE AND WHISKY.

SHIPPING NECESSITIES AND LUXURIES. Masterton, May 28Mr. Stagh Morrison (Masterton) moved at the Farmers' Union conference here to-day—"That the Government be re--quested to give wire, wire-netting, staples, woolpaoks, and cornsacks preference in shipping space over luxuries, and to be supplied to soldier settlements and new holdings at the lowest possible rates."' Mr. Morrison said that ho had been toid that there were many luxuries still coming into the country. For instance, it was said that because of Prohibition having been carried in some parts of America much American whisky had come here. At the same time fencing wire was badly needed for settlers in this country, and the want of it was keeping the country ibaxak. Mr. C. Reed (Oarterton) asked that the words "dairy requisites" should be added to the motion. A while ago 800 motorcars were brought out by a subsidised mail steamer at a time when a shipment of £BOO6 worth of salt for the National Dairy Association was refused steamer space, because it paid the shipping people better to carry motor-cars than dairy salt. Mr. E. Campbell (Wanganud) held that vessels should be sent by the Government to India to get cornsacks and woolpacks. Distribution should bo controlled by the Government, so that "rich peopls and big people" would not toe able to buy for three or four years ahead, as they did last year. Mr. T. Moss (Ekctahuna) said that these things had been given careful consideration by the Effioiency Board. A« to benzine, the farmers were as much to blame ag anyone, &.nd it rested with them to do away with some of their joy rides. At the conclusion of the discussion it was resolved—"That the Government be requested to give full preference in shipping space to all' requisites of essential industries, and that their attention be called to the need of ensuring the necessary shipping from lifdia for carrying bales and sacks to New Zealand in time for next season." Speaking at the conference later in the day, the Minister of Agriculture said that at present a scheme was 'being considered to get woolpa/oks and sacks in a proper and satisfactory way, and he hoped to have the whole scheme before him in about ten days from now. There were very few non-essential thiing3 coming here in ships—the freight rates were against it. The Government realised that unless they could get the produce away they could not get the money to carry on the war. The matter of exporting was in the Imperial Government's hands, and the Xew Zealand Government could only continue to make representation to them. A delegate: How about wire? Mr. Mac Don alii said it was now a very difficult thing to get wire.