The Daily News. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1920. PRODUCERS' TROUBLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 February 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1920. PRODUCERS' TROUBLES.

Throughout the Dominion the producers are giving vent to considerable dissatisfaction at the present position regarding the restricted prices obtainable for their produce. Meetings and conferences concerniug this trouble have become general, though there are as ye't no reliable signs of remedial measures being adopted. With regard to the frozen meat congestion, it was stated by Mr. J. C. Cooper at a meeting of farmers at Masterton last week, that the glut meant paralysing the operations of the producers, and he asserted that irreparable harm had been done, to the trade of the New Zealand producer by the action of the control people, the American Trust having the best of the deal throughout. He also referred to the menace to New Zealand trade in consequence of the transport bridge between the Dominion and the Old World being very largely owned by American interests. The outcome of the meatine was the passing of the

following resolutions: (1) That the Government make arrangements for the producers to he represented on any conference dealing with shipping freights; (2) Emphatically protesting against the hides embargo, as being a tax on farmers to benefit a few tanners, and no benefit to consumers; (3) Urging the Government to leave nothing undone to have the New Zealand stores cleared of Im-perial-owned meat before the start of the 1920-21 season; (4) That arrangements be made to convene a conference of delegates to elect a committee of six or eight members to' keep in constant touch with the Government in dealing with meat and shipping questions. At a recent meeting at Gisborne it was decided to urge the Government to continue pressure on the Imperial authorities to lift the whole of their meat from the Dominion stores by November 1, and to discontinue the control of the high retail prices of meat; also to i allow a free market, thereby relieving the congestion, and to end the commandeer on meat, wool, hides and dairy produce, reverting to pre-war conditions as soon as possible. The position with regard to hides has been equally unsatisfactory. The embargo on exportation and the regulations affecting the sale- of hides have not accomplished the end in view, ■with the result that new regulations have been gazetted which are intended to prevent the continuance of abuses which have become manifest. New Zealand tanners are given a pre-emptive right to purchase for local use, at market prices, the whole of the hides and calfskins produced in the Dominion, before being sold or offered for sale to any other person or exporter. Permits for export can only be obtained from the Board of Trade, and no permit to export will be given to any tanner or to any person who has purchased (directly or indirectly) hides or calfskins from a tanner. The hides and calfskins arc to lie submitted to auction and the tanners will have to pay the price equivalent to the last bid by a person not a tanner. Freezing works hides and calfskins not offered for sale by auction, as well as those collected by dealers and exporters, are to be first offered to "tanners, at the market price, before being sold to any other person. Permits for export of leather will only be granted on the Board of Trade being satisfied that such leather is not required in New Zealand. It will be seen there are several interests involved in this business—the producers, the tanners, the dealers and exporters, and the public. The growers are looking for the best price obtainable on the open market; the tanners naturally expect to make the most profit they can, the middlemen are out to take their toll, and the public—well, as usual, they have to suffer in pocket. Under the regulations the price of leather can be forced up by speculators who can afford to hold till the export embargo is lifted. That would suit the producers, but not the public. It is worthy of note that the railwaymen of Palmerston North, at a meeting on Saturday decided to draw the attention of the Premier to the hoarding of hides, causing inflated prices of boots and repairs, and requesting that steps be taken for the immediate release of hides in order to prevent an industrial upheaval. Whether hides are released or not, the price of leather is bound to be unusually high, and it does not appear that the new regulations will alter the outlook for the public, though the producers will probably benefit, and the tanners have the ball at their, feet. The problem is not easy to solve so as to give a square deal all round, and it would seem that the only way in which the public can be protected is for the hides to be subject to Government valuation and the tanners' profits retricted or the tanneries taken over and worked by the State. "With regard to wool, as the growers are sharing in the Imperial Government's profits they have not much cause for complaint considering the circumstances attendant on the war, though they probably would like to receive the full selling value of their produce. The latest development in the Dominion—the rationing of the manufacturers—is causing some resentment, but the action of the Government in re.tricting the supply to the average of the past few years appears to be designed to prevent speculation, and there is no doubt that if it is proved the manufacturers I need larger supplies, and have the plant and workers to deal with it, the Government may increase the allowance, provided the woollen goods are sold at a reasonable price after allowing for increased cost. It would be in the best interests of the country to encourage a larger output and reduce the cost to the consumers. The dairymen have their grievance over prices, but the early removal of the commandeer will remedy this. Last, but by no means least in importance is the shipping problem; which affects all the produc-

ers. This is a matter that needs prompt and effective measures to secure adequate transport and equitable charges. The producers will probably have no satisfaction'until they tackle this problem determinedly, and the only way in which this can be done is to acquire and run their own vessels. The Board of Trade, the Board of Agriculture, and the various associations representing the farmers are all taking a hand in dealing with the various matters connected with produce. Between them they should be able, with the help of the Government, as the intermediary with the Imperial authorities, to straighten out the present tangle and place the marketing of produce on sound economic lines.