WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 March 1922, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE MEAT POOL. BOARD OF CONTROL. (Special Correspondent.) Wellington, March I. Yesterday the combined committee* entrusted 'with the selection of the members of the board to control the meat pool scheme completed their labors and reported the appointment of Mr. J. S. Jessop (Wairoa), Mr. T. A. Dunean (Hunterville), Mr. William Perry (Masterton), Mr. J. C. N, Grigg (Ashburton) and Mr. Adam Hamilton, M.P. (Wallace). Subsequently it waa announced that the Government nominees to the board were Mr. David Jones, MJ?. ((Kaiapoi) and Mr. A. E. Harding (Dargaville). The representative of the stoek and station agents on the board is being chosen by ballot and the result probably will not be known till the end of the week. Some surprise is being expressed at the fact that the seven members of the board already chosen are all farmers, with a farmer’s good practical knowledge of affairs, but with no intimate acquaintance with biwsiness and business methods. The Prime Minister was understood to be favorable to a substantial leaven of business experience on the board, but apparently his view has not been consulted. The selected members all are members of the committee that appointed them. POWERS OF' BOARD. That it was highly desirable, from both the producers’ and the public’s point of view, that the board should contain the best business talent available may be judged from the powers it is to exercise. It has, to quote the Act (by which it is constituted, “full authority to make arrangementz and give such directions as it thinks proper” in the following matters: “(a) For the grading, handling, pooling and storage of meat in New Zealand prior to shipment. (b) For the shipment of such meat on such terms and in such quantities aS it thinks fit. (c) For the sale and disposal of meat on such terms as it thinks advisable. (d.) For the insurance against loss of any such meht either in New Zealand or in transit from New Zealand, and until disponed of. (e) Generally for all such matters as are necessary for the due discharge of its functions in handling, distributing and disposing of New Zeahmd meat.” Thiwe are very wide powers indeed, and many people here are doubtful as to the ability of the txmlQl as constituted to discharge them to»4he very beet advantage.