THE POOL SYSTEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1922, Page 4

THE POOL SYSTEM.

OPERATIONS IN AUSTRALIA. PRIMARY PRODUCERS’ SCHEMES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The Hon. W. D. Stewart (Minister for Customs), who returned from Sydney today, sdid New Zealand could watch with profit the extension of the system of pools by the primary producers of Australia. Pools in Australia operated in connection with wheat, meat, fruit-pre-serving, and other primary industries, ,but it was not easy to get a crucial view of the effect of the various pools. Some were operated by the States, some by the Federal Government, and some partly by both. The wheat pool had proved a very ex-, pensive undertaking for the Governments. The Federal Government guaranteed 50s a bushel, and the State of New South Wales added an extra 2s 6d, and in. the last year or two the latter incurred a loss of between £1,000,000 and £2,000,000. Opinion was divided as to whether pools should be voluntary or compulsory, but it seemed clear that the principle of pooling agreements, whether under the guise of co-operation or some other scheme, was bound to spread, and the effect should be carefully watched, not only in the interest of sound government and finance, but also in the interest- of the consumers.