THE PRIME MINISTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 November 1919, Page 4

THE PRIME MINISTER.

PROBABLE DATE OF ELECTIOK EXPORT OP MEAT. (By Telegraph—Special to News,) Wellington, Last Night. Mr. Massey returned from the North to-day, and will be in Wellington for a day or two. Asked regarding the date of the election this evening, he said that ho was not yet in a position to make a definite statement. The expectation here is that the election will take place on December 16th or 17th. Candidate generally are apxioua to get as much time as possible for campaigning, particularly members tvho were held in Wellington until the beginning of the month, and the electoral officers have much work to do. Mr. Massey mentioned the cablegram he received from the Imperial authorities the other day, promising that whatever was done for Australia and the Argentine in the purchase of meat would-be done also for New Zealand. He said that he was strongly of opinion that if tho other two countries agreed "to sell their meat to the Imperial Government for an additional year, New Zealand would be wiso to accept a similar arrangement. With due regard to the relative values of the meat, New Zealand meat had always brought a rather better price than Australian or Argentine. If New Zealand sought a free market when the other two countries had sold their exportable surplus the shipping position might become very difficult. Indeed, the Imperial authorities would be likely to give preference to the meat they had bought, and the Dominion might go seriously short of refrigerated space. Shipping was the crux of the whole matter. The market for the meat would be easy to find. The British Government controlled the available shipping, A VISIT TO ELTHAM. mo? 6 Jul 4 of t ' lc Premier, promises to wtt , i am t l uite a W place next On , our Eltham correspondent). ... Z l a y night he SDpats at the Town Hall, on Thursday morning receives a deputation of local bodies monHt ng tll ° workin f? of the Mt. Egmont stone quarries, and in the afterMr Wilkin °. pen tll ° * arden P art y « shouX »T 8 groU " d3 ' where there fm™»ii , rg< ; nu,ster °f the people rom all round the district to take the opportunity of meeting him.