OPINION IN DUNEDIN.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15037, 4 August 1914, Page 11

OPINION IN DUNEDIN.

(STECUL TO "THE PRESS.") . . . DUNEDIN.. August 3. The general opinion in commercial irefes here is that while Britain is not " ££* the products of New Zealand %_ rill command an unusually rcmuneraI • S" price, while should she be involved - *, lone as she retains command of the Z our products will command such I Sent pn'ces-as will enable us to pay a substantial war risk of insurance. There is some authority for the statement that it is not likely that the Ss will be compelled in the immediate future to press clients for overdrafts "R stands to reason," as one hanker nut it. "that tho banks will I contrite intents of their clients 1 . and deal gently with all who require gentle dealing, generally speaking. "Fortunately* said ono business ■ man interested in the frozen meat trade, "tho season is practically over for iho year. and all the freezing works will close within the next few days. lr the nrescnt situation- had arisen in the - middle of the freezing season there would have been only the local demand to deal with. The stock and prices would inevitably have collapsed at once, but all the export stock has already been dealt with, and local demand is now quite sufficient to cope - with the fat 6heep and cattle available. - As a matter of fact, prices aro expected to show a firming tendency. No war on the scale of this gigantic Euro- - pean outbreak is likely to last till December, and until that month the export of frozen meat doesn't count." Mr J. R Scott, the secretary of the South Island Dairy Association, said the war would inevitably havo a tendency to raise prices, and so long as ' Britain commanded the . seas there should not bo «ny difficulty in sending the usual shipments of dairy produce. - It was hopeless,, however, to expect any buyinc to be done nntil the situation ._• was clearer, and, anyhow', they would "' not have to ship anything from here until November.