THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1913. HANDLING OF PRODUCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 21 February 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1913. HANDLING OF PRODUCE.

♦ The mission of Mr W. D. Lysnar, who addressed a meeting of farmers and others in Masterton last night, is one of vital concern to the procluc.ers of the Dominion. For many years past the trade of New Zealand has been dominated by London, and the producers at this end have been at the mercy of an apparently organised ring of importers and agents, whose sole consideration has been their own sordid gain, When, a couple of years back, it was demonstrated that the methods adopted for placing New Zealand frozen meat and other produce upon the market were shamefully defective, the London Port Authority was aroused from its somnolence, and promised immediate improvement. But what happened? No sooner had the projected improvements been outlined and endorsed by the New Zealand Committee that was investigating the matter, than the importers with the larger stores, who were making a fat living at the expense of the producers, got to work and brought influence to bear. The result is that, instead of the. South West India 'Dock being placed at the disposal of New Zealand, and the filthy barges being abandoned* the Port Authority has resolved upon retaining the Albert and Victoria Dock and continuing to saddle the producers with the -extra cost of handling. The N.Z. Association, after fruitless efforts to secure reform, prosecuted inquiries m the West of England, and discovered, somewhat to their astonishment, that the facilities offered at Bristol, Liverpool and Manchester for handling produce were immensely superior to those of London. Not only so; they found that the produce could be handled more cheaply and effectively through Bristol and the West of England ports than by way of London. And so, conferring with the Bristol Authority, which has offered to place capital as well as facilities at the disposal of New Zealand, the Producers' Association has come to the conclusion that it would be in the best interests of this Dominion if the whole • of its produce were sent to the West j of England. The movement has taken '■ definite shape, and Mr Lysnar is now < touring the Dominion, inviting the co- < operation of farmers in the matter, i His speech in Masterton last evening ■' was both comprehensive and conclu- * sive. Ho demonstrated clearly the - disadvantages of the present system, ] and adduced convincing proof that ' the West of England proposal is a 1 thoroughly sound one. There are, of '] course, objections to the scheme, but \ these are more imaginary than real. \ For instance, one would he tempted ', to ask how the proposal would affect h

the largo mercantile firms that have their headquarters in London. Mr Lysnar replies that the producer will be permitted to deal with precisely the same mercantile houses that he <leals with to-day. The only difference would he that, instead 1 of the produce being stored in the dingy r. to res of London, and travelling in filthy barges, it would be 'handled at Home by representatives of the producers themselves; transferred from the diip's side into suitable stores; md distributed to the various centres as the exigencies of the market shall require. So far as the markets themselves are concerned, the ißrktol-Xow Zealand Association would supply them with much greater regularity than they are being supplied to-day, " The financial and shipping considerations will, of course, enter largely into Ihe discussion. Mr Lysnar assures us that there is no reason why the pre'■'.'iit financial arrangements should be disturbed. If they were, the new Association would lie prepared to undertake all that was required in this direction. So far as shipping is concerned, the Fedora 1-Ho'iilder Company has promised to furnish all the that is necessary. The new movement, in so far as it will break down existing institutions, will meet with uncompromising -opposition from those who are interested in London stores and in London profits. But, if it can be shown that the producer will benefit to the extent of hundreds of thousands of pounds every year by the change proposed, we should imagiiie him to be lacking in intelligence if he were to be bound by existing tie*and institutions. The Dominion of New Zealand has been too dependent in the past upon Smith-field and similar markets, ft has been at the mercy of a ring of middlemen. And it is quite time that it took upon itself to break away from the commercial yoke that has -so long been bound around its neck. So far as thisdistr.ct is concerned, the majority of the Inducers have been in the habit of selling at this end, so that their interest in the matter would not .ippear to be very great. They should remember, however, that every penny that is lost the mercantile house or the meat freezing company ..in the handling of produce at Home is lost to thenn. It is, therefore, as much to their interest as to that of the man who consigns on his own account, to see that the best possible prices are obtained at the other end. Moreover, if it could be shown, as it doubtless will be shown, that it pays better to consign than to sell, the advantages would at once be appreciated. After analysing the position very closely, and dissecting thp evidence adduced by Mr Lysnar, we are forced to the conclusion that-he is making an appeal to the producers that is deserving of a quick and ready response.