THE MEAT MARKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1920, Page 6

THE MEAT MARKET.

THE STITPPIXG CONGESTION. A COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND.> By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Feb. 9. A deputation from a meeting of farmers held in Feilding to discuss the position arising at the end of the meat commandeer interviewed the Prime Minister to-day. Mr. J. H. Pcrrctt expressed the opinion that 4,000,000 carcases would remain in store next December, and the fanners wanted to know where they were.

Mr. Massey said his estimate, on official figures, would be about 2,000,000 carcases. It was understood that the two businesses, the Imperial Government and the farmers, would be doubled at the end of the commandeer. He had always been willing that a commission should go Home to look after the producers' interests, but had felt that to make it representative the members should be nominated or elected by a representative gathering of farmers." So far he had not been informed that a commission had been bo chosen. The question of expense would not be allowed to stand in the way. He had received letters to the effect that the eommiss'on was not sufficiently representative. COAL BEFORE MEAT. Mr. J. Poison, the principal speaker at the Feilding meeting, said the four men mentioned as members of the commission, Dr. Reakes, Messrs Russell Jones, M.P-, and himself were chosen by a meeting of the Dominion Farmers' Union Conference and Sheep Owners' Federation.

The Prime Minister, replying, said they had every reason to be satisfied with the result of the commandeer.. He quoted an English authority as saying that the congestion in Home stores Was not expected to continue long. He regretted he had to take the responsibility of diverting some ships due in New Zealand to load produce to Newport News, Port Kembla and Newcastle for coal, but hoped such a course would not. be necessary in future. Everything possible had been done to safeguard the interests of the producers by finding out what the intentions of the Imperial Government were regarding the meat commandeer, but nothing definite had been known until a fortnight ago. The Argentine was not being favored by the British authorities and was not, as was asserted, being supplied by the letter with three times the amount nf shipping given to Australasia. Nor was there control of meat in New Zealand. It had been a straight-out purchase. OPPOSITION TO NEW ZEALAND.

It was absurd'to say England was being allowed to penalise the Dominions. There was need lor New Zealand to be careful in marketing its meat, as there was plenty of opposition. Then there was the danger of ihe Meat Trust. He believed there Was an organised movement to cause friction between New Zealand and the Imperial authorities with the view of allowing the trust to get a footing in Britain. "The Trust would be willing to pay anything to get a footing in New Zealand. Thev were here now, trading under anotheV name. It was impossible at present to get at them, but lie was determined that a stand should be made.

Mr. Massey, in a further reply on the subject of.the commission to" go to England, said that if the Dominion Executive of the Farmers' Union nominated the members of the commission and notified him. that would be good enough for him.