MEAT PURCHASE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 July 1941, Page 4

MEAT PURCHASE

MINISTER CRITICISE!) ALLEGED REPUDIATION OF PLEDGE. FARMERS' UNION RESOLUTION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. Strong disapproval of the action of the Minister of Agriculture and Marketing, Mr Barclay, “for his repudiation of the Government’s pledge to purchase all exportable meat produced this season, and his failure to give any indication of the Government's policy for dealing with next season’s meal production,” was expressed at the annual Dominion conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union in Wellington yesterday. Moving a remit from Otago to this effect, Mr E. A. Cameron (Gore) quoted various promises made by the Prime Minister and Mr Barclay. "They were definite promises," he said, "and I think every farmer believed that when he fattened his stock it would be paid for by the Government. When the Government got into a bit of a jam it began to side-step and said the farmers were taking advantage of the position and sending in abnormal quantities.” Mr Cameron quoted a legal opinion from “the best compensation lawyer in the South Island." who said he thought the Minister had contracted as claimed. The promise was broken. Mr Cameron added, and that undermined the farmers’ confidence in any future promises by the Government. Seconding the motion. Mr D. H. Cockburn (Queenstown) said there was no question but that the producers of the Dominion had a definite case against the Minister. The remit was carried without dissent.