FLEECING THE FARMER.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 August 1921, Page 8

FLEECING THE FARMER.

FAKING A MUTTON SLUMP, MEAT PRODUCERS PLAN TO FIGHT. COMBINES WORKING THE LONDON MARKET, On his way home to Gisborne, after taking part in the Farmers’ Union conference at Wellington, Mr. W. D. Lysnar, M.P., was in Auckland the other day. He had a great deal to say to the Star regarding New Zealand meat on the English market, attributing the heavy present slump to the operations of the big meat monopolies. Mr. Lysnar is a member of the committee set up by the conference to consider ways and means of bringing into practical effect a series of resolutions passed regarding meat. The conference urged for the favorable consideration of New Zealand farmers —(1) The establishment of retail depots for the sale of New Zealand meat in England, and (2) the formulation of a big combined marketing scheme. Pressed for his opinion on the prospects of something practical arising from these resolutions, Mr. Lysnar said if the farmers of the Dominion would co-operate in a reasonable way there was no doubt that the existing facilities for marketing produce could be very greatly improved for the advantage of the whole Dominion. The whole conference, he said, was practically unanimous that the present slump in New Zealand meat in England was being engineered by the big meat operators in both England and New Zealand, and was working to the detriment of both, the producers in New Zealand and the consumers at Home. Briefly put, the position, was that the wholesale price of New Zealand meat in England, particularly beef, had dropped since February very materially, but the retail price had risen from 1/5 for beef ribs in February to 1/7 in April. The exporting charges worked out at about •J Id per lb, and the current wholesale prices on the London market were from 6d to 9d for wethers, 4%d to 6d for ewes, and 4Jd to 6d for ox. If these wholesale prices were compared with the figures ruling in English retail shops (beef 2/8 and mutton 2/7 to 3/- per pound), said Mr. Lysnar, it would be seen what a profit the English retailers are making, and it should be remembered that thousands of the retail

shops in England were owned or controlled by the same .dealers who wore forcing down the wholesale prices. “In view of these facts,” said Mr. Lysnar, •‘the Dominion Conference had no alternative but to suggest for the favorable consideration of the farmers the establishment of retail shops in England. It must of course be recognised thuf those English firms who have, been acting as wholesale distributors for us have themselves been powerless against the very powerful organisation built up by the big meat dealers and retailers to control the wholesale trade. In face of this big combination the farmers have only two alternatives left. (1) To sit down and. endure things as best they can. in which case many will bo forced into bankruptcy; or (2) to take action and follow the lead of their opponents by establishing retail shops themselves, thus following the lead of their opponents, such as eetey Bros, and their subsidiary companies in New Zealand, the “Big Five” American Trust and others, and fighting these traders who have failed to give the New Zealand farmer a fair market value for his products.” The speaker was satisfied that ibis was the only remedy, pnd to show bow strong a. hand the New Zealand farmers would hold if they would co-operate ito carry out some such scheme, he painted out that New Zealand supplied 60 per cent, of the mutton and lamb imported from all over the world into ’England. Consequently, he averred' the New Zealand producer would be in a very much stronger position oven than the combined traders, who would be fiehting him, for the simple reason that he would own the meat he retailed, while they did not. And so long as the Dominion farmers would combine in a reasonable way against the big dealers, they would hold the same strong position that the trusts and big dealers held against them to-day. 1 ntil the committee, which had been set up by the conference, had formuiated a scheme to give practical effect to the resolutions passed, it was not possible, said the member for Gisborne, to go into details, but he personally could see no difficulties that could ..not be overcome, and the matter was one of such importance, affecting as it did I fhc prosperity of the Dominion as a whole/- that it behoved the committee to outline some practical plan at the earliest possible date. The committee set up by the conferferenee consists of Messrs. W. J. lolson (Wammnui). 11. Morrison (Mastertoni, R.. D. Duxfield (Auckland), B S. .Chadv/idl's (Dannevirke), G. Marshall (Marton) W D. Lysnar (Gisborne), J. Anderson (Mohan) J. A. MacPherson (Gamaru), and Captain Colbejk (Auckland ‘ The committee has power IO ld d to its numbers, and in addition to this personnel, representatives of die Xortn Canterbury, <ne Southland, and the Otago Farmers’ Unions have yet to ribo appointed. ______