MEAT MARKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 July 1920, Page 5

MEAT MARKET.

SPACE FOR EXPORTS. A HOPEFUL OUTLOOK. IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT'S HELP. By Telegraph.—Pres3 Association. Wellington, Last NightI When it was reported that there was . no possibility of obtaining an extension I of the Imperial meat purchase contract. ( Mr. Massey, on behalf of the producers, devoted his attention to obtaining an im- [ provement of the shipping facilities. This improvement had been pressed for all along, but it became doubly important when there was a prospect of the producers having to hold their meat until the ' Imperial purchases had been cleared | from the stores. The Prime Minister has now received cabled advice from the High Commissioner, conveying the important announcement that tonnage for the new season's privately owned meat will be allocated side by side with tonnage for clearing Imperial purchases. The message throws hopeful light on the whole situation. The text of the message is as follows: "Extension of meat contract referred to in my telegram of 26th June: I have spent an hour to-day with the Fgod Controller, and find that, while he is unable to sanction an extension of the meat contract, lie sympathises strongly wifca the Nejv Zealand producers in their difficulties,' and recognises the necessity for maintaining the United Kingdom as tlvs principal market for New Zealand meat For this purpose he will facilitate the resumption of private trade at the earliest possible moment by the allocation of tonnage for private shipments only, subject to such conditions as willprotect the realisation of Government stocks, which is being pressed forward in every possible manner. At the present time the situation is easing here considerably,_ The congestion is relieved, and at present there is .j'oom in store for 50,000 carcases." FURTHER COMMANDEER URGED. EXTENSION FOR ONE MONTH. REQUEST FROM THE PREMIER. Wellington, Last Night. | In .the House this afternoon, the Premier read cables which had passed between the High Commissioner and the Government on the subject of the meat commandeer by the Imperial authorities Mr. Massey said he had been in communication with the Imperial authorities f in connection with this matter for some time, and he regretted his request for an extension of the commandeer had not \ been complied with. The important point about the Food Controller's decision was that he would "facilitate tho resumption of private trading at the earliest possible moment by the allocation of tonnage for private shipment " 'This lie took to mean that the Imperial Gov- > ernment would not. prejudice private enterprise by monopolising shipping. Mr. Massey, however, returned to tho charge, and through the Governor-Gen-eral he sent the following cable to the Secretary of State for the Colonies:— "The Prime Minister presents his compliments, and desires again to refer ta the telegram from the S-cretary of State for the Colonies, dated May 27, conveying the decision of His Majesty's Govern ment in regard to the request made for an extension of the period of the Imperial requisition of New Zealand meat on behalf of the producers in the Dominion, the Prime Minister again respectfully urges the necessity of at least (One month's extension of the requisition, and for two reasons. Firstly, the season ir» j New Zealand has been very late, and meat is still coming in, and likely to come in for some weeks. Secondly, very considerable delay occurred arising from the congestion of the stores in England, and consequently the freezing in New Zealand became blocked. The Prime Minister desires to point out what is happening now is not only a matter of inconvenience, but a serious loss to the producers in the different parts of New ; Zealand. The New Zealand Government therefore hopes that in the special circumstances the Imperial authorities will agree to extend the period of tjie requisi- ' tion, at any rate to 31st July next." (