NEW ZEALAND FROZEN MEAT

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20292, 20 February 1915, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND FROZEN MEAT

IMPORTANT CONFERENCE IN WELLINGTON.

IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT TAKES CONTROL OF SUPPLY.

(Per Press Association-

WELLINGTON, Feb. 19. The following official report was issued to-night of the proceedings at the conference- of representatives of shipping and frozen meat companies and of the Board of Agriculture, convened by the Premier for the purpose of discussing the question of insulated tonnage and other mattecs, which met at Parliamentary Buildings this morning, the Prime Minister presiding. The conference also discussed a communication from the Imperial authorities asking the New Zealand Government to take control of the whole of the frozen meat output of the Dominion on its behalf, which might be available for export. The Prime Minister,* in opening the conference, briefly outlined" the steps taken by the Government to ensure regular services in connection with the export of our frozen meat and dairy pioduce. The conference exhaustively discussed the question, and the iollowing resolutions were carried:

"That in view of the scarcity of insulated shipping this meeting asks for an assurance from the shipping companies trading to New Zealand to load steamers direct from Great BriWn to New Zealand, and that they will do all in their power to bring out all tonnage possible, and as soon as possible to load meat and dairy produce from New Zealand ports; further that the shipping companies confer with the Government and the freezing companies in regard to the manner and mode of doing this without prejudice to the existing con-, tracts."

The Prime Minister then brought up the question of the reauest received by cable from the Secretary of State for the Colonies > That the whole of the Dominion's supply of refrigerated i^etit available for export during the war bo secured for the Imperial Government for the use of the Allied armies, :md m order to prevent any excessive .*dvaneo in the price in v the United Kiag.io'n, of existing supplies which may not If requires for the armies of the Allies in the field.

The Prime Minister informed the conference that the Government had decided to comply with the request of the Imperial authorities.

The following resolution was adopted.: "That this conference wishes to inform the Imperial Government, through the Prime Minister, that they are prepared to co-operate with the Dominion Government in every way-with regard to the proposal that the whole of the meat available for export should be placed at the disposal of the Imperial Government; further, that the conference set up a committee to assist the Government in arranging the. . details necessary for the successful working of the scheme."

It was also resolved that a committee consisting of representatives of all the freezing companies and of the Board of Agriculture be formed in order to confer with the Government on the matter, the Premier undertaking to formulate a scheme for submission to the committee at an early date.

The conference carried a resolution thanking Mr Massey for what he had done regarding the question of freight.