PRODUCE PRICES.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1921, Page 7

PRODUCE PRICES.

FARMERS SHOULD ORGANISE. MR. MASSEY’S SUGGESTION. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Nov. 5. “When I asked this House some years ago to agree to the legislation setting up the Board of Agriculture, representative of the producers in every part of New Zealand, I thought that a very good start was being made with the organisation required to look after the marketing of our produce,” said the Prime Minister in the House of Representatives. “I am afraid that not a great deal has been done. In saying this I am not reflecting upon the members of t 1.3 Board of Agriculture. 1 have had this matter in mind for a long time past, and recently I took an opportunity of expressing an opinion that a special board should be set up to deal with this question of markets. Il should consist mostly of producers, with one or two business men if the producers think that necessary, and one or two representatives of the Government. I do not think that there are many better business men than the farmers themselves when their own interests are concerned.”

“This Board would look after the handling of the produce at this end, and it could appoint a thoroughly good man to push the interests of the Dominion in England.”

Mr. Sykes (Masterton): “Why not establish shops in England.” The Prime Minister replied that he had looked into this matter and he understood how great were the difficulties. There were big firms controlling thousands of shops /md a great organisation would be required to compete with them. Members had discussed the operations of the meat trust on many occasions. Did they realise that what the trust could do to the producers if it got a footing in this country would be very little compared to what it could do if it secured control of the retail trade in Britain? The trust was trying to control the retail meat trade there and its influence undoubtedly was growing. It had much more influence than the people of this country imagined. A member: There are many other trusts.

Mr. Massey agreed that this was the case. Another big concern of which much had been said, namely, Vestey Brothers, was likely to go out of business.

Mr. Jennings (Taumarunui): They have lost millions of money in recent years.

Mr. Massey: So has the meat trust. If the business of Veetey Brothers fell into the hands of the meat trust, as it may do, they would practically have control of the whole meat trade of Britain. That is not a good outlook for the producers of this country. It is an outlook that should make them very diligent and very eager to protect their own business. Let a board be appointed consisting of really good smart men who are farmers. There are plenty of them. I could get a suitable board together without any difficulty. Then let this board send to Britain a good man who will be able to report as to the actual position from day to day. Mr. Wilford (Hutt): Did not the farmers decide to send three men Home? Mr. Massey: They were not sent. It was discussed on many occasions.

Mr. Wilford: Was it not decided? Mr. Massey: The suggestion was made that the Government should pay the expenses of these men and the Government was rather unwilling to do it. If money is wanted you have the precedent of the orchard tax. There is plenty of money to be found. The Prime Minister added that he would prefer to see the farmers pick their own men and handle the matter themselves. If the Government sent anybody to Britain it probably would be an officer of the Deparme?nt. The initial steps for the creation of the organisation he was suggesting had been taken already. The Minister of Agriculture had conferred with the producers on the subject. The dairy producers had their own man in Britain alreadv and he kept them in touch with the'markets. They paid him all his expenses and gave him a particularly good salary. They got value for their money. One man might not be enough to represent the meat and wool interests, but one could be sent as a start. The Prime Minister added that more of New Zealand’s produce should be sent to ports othey than London. He had suggested this in the House recently and within forty-eight hours he had received a cablegram fro , m Bristol expressing appreciation of his suggestion. The representative should be paid bv the farmers. If the Government paid it would have to give similar assistance to every other industry. He suggested that the farmers should proceed with the scheme for securing the presentation of their interests. The. Government would be prepared to assist.