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ASSISTING THE FARMERS.

MINISTERS' PLAIN SPEAKING. SHIPPING AFFECTED BY EPIDEMIC AND STRIKES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, uuit Night. Numerous matters arising out of remits passed by tho oonferenca of the Wellington Provincial Farmers' Union, were discussed with the Hong, W. A. Macdonald and D. H. Guthrie, by delegates to f'e conference this afternoon. Tlii' i|uestions dealt with included shipping operations, meat trust and fixing the price for butter. The Hon W. A. Macdonald said, in regard to the question of insulated shipping, he did not think the Government had left anything undone in this respect. Constant representations had been mad* to Sir J. Ward, urging that "more ship* ping should be placed at the disposal of New Zealand, and every effort had bees made to influence the minds of the Imperial authorities that the position waa urgent so far as the Dominion via concerned.

President G. L. Marshall: Is it not « fact that the meat trust has had influences at work to divert some of the skips that should have come here? The Minister replied that lie had been advised from England that influence* of the trust had no such effect at all. The same question had occurred to liim |iter the Act of last session had been pawled, i and it was for that reason he had bad en- | quiries made in the o|d Country, The trust was not able to interfere with the shipping position at all. In respect to the operations of the meat trust, Mr. Macdonald said that an export liMßse was not needed this year, as the ooin« 4>anies were selling the meat to the Mil; Zealand Government, which obtained the supplies for the Home Qovernment. To him that appeared to be a weakness, but it was in accordance with legislation passed last year. Of course, banner* could help the Government in the matter if they refused to sell meat to the trust. However, the position hod not been so severe during the war, as the Imperial Government had been purcbasbg all supplies of meat in the Dominion, and bad even had to obtain supplies from the meat trust itself. At the same time the general position was serious, and he was strongly of opinion that before tin meat contract with the Imperial authorities ceased a strong commissio- should be sent Home from New Zealand to enquire into the whole question, but they would have to await the arrival of the two leaders from the Old Country before any* thing could be done. Personally be be* lieved the Government would have to send agents abroad to look After the interests of producers of the country. He hoped Dr. Beakes would be able to go home within the nest few months to go into the whole position. The conference had suggested that the names of representatives of the meat trust should be published, and he could not see any reason why that should not be done. /

PRICE OF BUTTER. So far as the fixation of prices wm concerned, be knew it waa a moat difficult matter to deal with. It was said herp yesterday that the fixation of prices and interfering with the produce of farmers was done for political purposes. That was not a fair statement. Whatever hai been done had been done to protect the produce of the farmers of this country. The Minister went on to explain the position regarding the prices of butter anl potatoes. With regard to the potatoes, he Said the reason why the embargo had been placed on their export was thai the price had soared from £3 15s to £l7 and upwards to £2O per ton. He knew it waa unfair to exercise drastic powers ( in connection with the produce of the soil, but they were living extraordinary conditions, and food prices had gone up tremendously. Therefore they could not wonder at industrial Unrest when it was found that price* to such an extent. It cpuld be understood why workers tasked for more wages, and why stop-work and like meeting! were held. HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER;

Speaking of hydro-electric power, the Minister said it would be * goodtbinr for the coal position iu the country if the eopl stores were connected up 1 with hydro-electric power schemes. When th» hydro-electric proposals of the Minister of Public Works (Sir Wm. Praser) became an accomplished fact, fannere should not rest content until every cod store in the country was connected with power supply stations, SHIPPING DIFFICULTY. !

The Hon. Guthrie said that everything possible was being done to try to relieve the shipping position. The Government had been assured that a fair apportionment of the shipping had been allocated to New Zealand. Compared with Australia, no doubt, the Dominion had been overshadowed by the »M» Australasia, a proper distinction not having been made between the two countries of Australia and New Zealand, fad it not been for stakes and epidemtoeSore ships would have been available for loading in New Zealand. At the ptffsnt time half the season's output of gheese, , amounting to 447,000 crates, was itfitore. y regard to butter, they had nothing c to fear, and the same could be said regarding wool. They could get plenty of space for the shipment of wool. There was an idea abroad that the equalisation so ienie in respect to butter pressed heavy on the exporters. Cabinet was considering the suggestion to take from the consolidated fund (he money necessary to improve the position of those producers whose butter was kept for lW consumption at a lower price than that toted for export. WASTi LANDS.

, ™ ith the question of waste lands, Mr Guthrie said that Sir Francis rA 11 ? alive t0 tha necessity for "j" 1 ® baing planted as soon as poss--11 ? e Bure «« soon as funds ana labor were available Sir Francis Bell would go ahead with a vigorous policy.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19190529.2.22

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, 29 May 1919, Page 4

Word count
Tapeke kupu
975

ASSISTING THE FARMERS. Taranaki Daily News, 29 May 1919, Page 4

ASSISTING THE FARMERS. Taranaki Daily News, 29 May 1919, Page 4

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