THE MEAT POOL

Taranaki Daily News, 6 January 1922, Page 5

THE MEAT POOL

ALTERNATE SCHEME. r MEAT EXPORTERS’ PROPOSALS, REPLY TO THE MINISTER. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. In reply to the Hon. W. Nosworthy’s statement that the only criticism of tho compulsory meat pool which has so far come to light is of a destructive character, and that no one has been able to put forward any suggestion for improvement or for any alternative scheme which will afford that protection to the producers’ interests which the present position demands, the Meat Exporters’ Association say they knew nothing about the scheme until they saw it in the papers. Representatives immediately went to Wellington and put constructive proposals to the committee of members of the House responsible for the scheme, and made a definite oiler to help to evolve a workable scheme if invited to do so. They pointed out that inflated land values were responsible for much of the present trouble, and also that a compulsory pool would be disastrous in its effect upon the meat producers* business and the Dominion’s trade as a whole; further, that all the advantages which the committee anticipated from a compulsory scheme wouli be secured by a voluntary pool, and they promised their goodwill if the Government asked for it in securing:

(1) That a New Zealand board or the Government should be given the right to bargain with the whole meat freight from the Dominion for the purpose trying to get a lower rate from the shipping companies. (2) That it would be easy to formulate a scheme for saving the time of refrigerated steamers by limiting the number of ports at which they should load. (3) That a scheme for reducing the multiplicity of small lota by poo-ling by agreement would not be a difficult arrangement.

(4) That a scheme for securing to such producers as wished to avail themselves of it the benefits of a guaranteed minimum price for their stock and liberal advance against it could’ be arranged without disturbance and loss to the whole trade.

(5) That meat in the voluntary pool could be protected in the Home market so far as was humanly possible by the Government inviting the goodwill of the Landon meat importers, instead of by antagonising them. These offers of constructive assistance were made before Christmas, and the last ten days might have been spent in constructive work had they been accepted. In the face of these facts the association says it is not possible for the Minister to persist in his statement.

POSITION OF ARMOUR AND CO.

MANAGER CONDEMNS THE POOL. “ONE OF BIGGEST TRUSTS.” Wellington, Last Night. Some remarks upon the proposal of the Government to establish a meat pool to be controlled by the producers themselves in their own interests, were made to a Times representative by Mr W. Irving Carney, managing directoi for Armour and Co. in Australasia. He spoke of the proposal from the point of view in which it is regarded by the company he represents. “Many of the producers who signed the Armour petition,” said Air. Carney, “are asking the question: What has the. Government done about it? The answer is: The result is the meat pool. According to Mr. Massey’s own statement before the House, a? published in the Press on December 20, he said that during the discussion by the Reform Party on the Armour petition some one had suggested, either himself or a member, that if something could be done by pooling, the same as was done under the commandeer, the difficulties regarding Armour’s license would be overcome. ‘lt is a well-known fact that the Imperial Government has been in cable conun-enication with the New Zealand Government and has asked it not to treat Armour and Co. any differently than it did other exporters throughout New Zealand. It really seems to me as if the producers of New Zealand are going to be compelled to accept a compulsory meat pool, instead of tbe Government granting Armour and Co. the license they are entitled to.

“As far as the meat pool is concernjed, personally I think that if the stock and station agents could pool their ownclients’ meat this would undoubtedly be a great help to farmers. At the same time, as indicated by the figures obtained from the Bank of New Zealand, our meat to-day is bringing prices which compare very favorably with prewar prices. The only way in which the Government, if it is sincere in its desire to help the producers, could possibly be any assistance, as far as I can see, would be to cut down the freezing charges and shipping freights. “To sum the whole position up, it looks to me as if the Government, in making a compulsory pool, is forming one of the biggest trusts that has ever been established in New Zealand or any other country. The whole scheme, so ■far as pooling meat is concerned, is absolutely unworkable.” In conclusion Mr. Carney denied a statement made at Masterton* on Wednesday by Sir Walter Buchanan that he (Mr. Carney) was manager for the so-called “big five” in the frozen meat industry. “Sir Walter certainly does flatter me,” he remarked.-

CRITICISM FROM ENGLAND.

CASE AGAINST A POOL. Received Jan. 5, 9.55 p,m. London, Jan. 5. Lord Askwith, interviewed by the Financial Times, said the permanent adoption of Mr. Massey’s proposed meat pool would be playing into the hands of trusts in other countries to the detriment of New Zealand, and our supply of meat from the British Dominions. So great is , the consumers’ feeling against Government control after the distressful experience of the control of meat during the war, that the consumer would probably start with a prejudice against New Zealand pooled meat. — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

APPROVAL FROM INVERCARGILL.

Invercargill, Last Night. A well-attended meeting of farmers and others interested was held at Invercargill to consider the meat pool proposal. After hearing addresses by Messrs. J. R. and A. Hamilton M.P.’s, the meeting adopted a resolution, with £our dissentients. sunnortixuE the Gov*

ernment's scheme. Delegates were appointed to attend the conference at Wrf« lington. FAVORED IN NELSON. Nelson, Jan. o. . A large meeting of producers unanimously favored the formation of a meat pool. "Mr. George M‘Mahon was selected to represent the Nelson producers at next week’s conference. SUPPORTED IN HAWERA. Another of the series of meetings which are being held throughout New Zealand by members of farmers’ organisations and producers to discuss the proposed meat pooi scheme was held at Hawera yesterday, when Mr. R. Dunn (president of the Taranaki Provincial Farmers’ Union) presided over a good attendance. The meeting, which was addressed by Mr. O. Hawken, M.P., on lines similar to the meetings at New Plymouth and Stratford, and by Mr. E. Dixon, M.P., passed a resolution in favor of the scheme. Mr. G. V. Pearce waa elected the delegate to attend the conference in Wellington.