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The Wholesale Price Order would, in effect, establish a buying schedule, as the purchasers of live-stock would know that with the carcass-price per 100 lb. of beef at 48s. 4d., offal, hide, &c., values at 2s. Bd. per 100 lb., and auction commission, &c., fees at 2s. per 100 lb., this price could not be exceeded if retail sales were to be made at price-order levels, and purchases of meat should then be made from wholesalers at the basic wholesale price. With the institution of the Wholesale Price Order which would set the basic price and so establish a buying schedule, opportunity would be afforded the master butchers to create their own wholesaling organizations wherever they so desired. I am in agreement with the finding contained in the majority report, clause 2, page 8, which refers to the establishment of farmer and butcher co-operative wholesale companies, with the exception of the closing paragraph, as, while I consider that organizations of the type outlined there to be beneficial to both parties, it would still be possible for both such combined co-operative companies and butcher (only) co-operative companies to operate successfully and administer supplies under a voluntary domestic schedule were it to be based on and governed by a Wholesale (Carcass-meat) Price Order. While in agreement with clause 7, page 9, which refers to the lack of unanimity amongst butchers on the question of obtainment of supplies, I would qualify this statement by adding that, while a number of butchers wish to retain auction sales and sales by private treaty as buying systems, it is clear that they all desire to purchase their supplies at prices in conformity with the retail-price order. Strong objection was registered against any system which would compel purchase of supplies to be made only from export and freezing company wholesalers, and this objection is the reason for the desire to retain alternative avenues of purchase. I do not agree with clauses 3, 4, and 5, which refer to difficulties experienced by fat- and store-stock producers, for, while conditions such as are mentioned in these clauses have prevailed in the producer community in the past, the opinion of national leaders of the stock-producers of this country and of countries overseas is that a greater measure of stability and planned production must be the aim of all producers. Extract of statement made by Mr. W. N. Perry, president of Federated Farmers of New Zealand (Inc.) at a meeting of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers in Paris in May of this year : New Zealand farmers felt, said Mr. Perry, that the international federation could do a great deal to help by bringing pressure to bear on Governments and other organizations to ensure not only that the maximum quantity of food was produced, but also that prices were stabilized. New Zealand farmers did not want prices which bore too heavily upon the consumer, but they felt they were equally entitled to expect prices sufficiently high to ensure maximum production. Two fundamentals must be recognized, said Mr. Perry. First, that we, as agricultural producers, have a duty to utilize our land so as to produce as much as possible; secondly, that Governments and consumers must recognize that we are entitled to prices which will give us stability and a feeling of long-term security. If these facts are recognized by all sections of the community I feel production all over the world can be increased. In further disagreement with the statement in clause 4, which states that inducement must be given to the farmer to make supplies of feed available for the holding of fat stock in the winter or off season, I must point out that since 1940 increased costs have been recovered by the producer to the extent of a 50-per-cent. increase in the export schedule, and in the winter or off season the realization value permitted under retail-price-order increases for beef is to a peak increase of 25 per cent, over the export schedule rate in the South Island and approximately 10 per cent, over a six-weekly period in the North Island. Even with the inducement of these increases higher prices are still sought, and it would appear that there is no limit to the inducement expected by many producers. I contend that fat-stock production should be on a business basis of sale at a stable price which would show a reasonable profit for the undertaking, rather than speculation for the maximum " inducement," regardless of the final marketable value of the product.

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