FROZEN MEAT.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16729, 12 January 1920, Page 6

FROZEN MEAT.

; THE STORAGE POSITION. ! CANTERBURY FROZEN MEAT CO. j AND GOVERNMENT. 1 Tlie following correspondence recently passed between tlie Prime .Minister a;nl tin" Canterbury Frozen Meat Com pany on the frozen meat and storage position:— Canterbury Frozen M eat Company. Christchureh. New Zealand. December li'th, li'io. I lie Right Hon. \V. F. Massey, P.C.. Department of Imperial Government Supplies, Wellington. Hear Sir,—l have the honour to advise the 'following table received from our London office:— _ ".Mackenzie. Tiie reply is not sntistactory. It is as follows: 1: is a matter in which we cannot interfere, because Government- orders cease telescoping accepted by New Zealand GovenniKnt_ as final. 1 recommend Company reier the matter to New Zealand Government. I have consulted Rorthwick and otliers. who will communicate -ith .New Zealand to same effect." Ibis Company cannot believe tho statement that the Imperial Government's order to cease telescoping caryasp.s ' las , ' H> °n accepted bv tho New Zealand Government as final. Tho matter is so serious in relation to the space available for tlie forthcoming season, and tho incidental losses to our com-

pany and probably to others aro so great that, it is trusted that urgent steps will be taken by the Government to have this unjust decision withdrawn.—Yours faithfullv (Signed) GEORGE CLIFFORD, Cliairman.

Tho following is a copy of a letter received from Mr Massey, ''Wellington Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, January sth, 19120. Dear Sir George,—-J urn in receipt of your letter of tlio Itfth inst., in which you quote a cnblo received from your London office, the contents of which are noted. The actual position is that tho Government very strongly protested against tho decision of tho Impel ial Board of irado that tho cutting or carcases was to ceaso. but in spito of this tlio Hoard of Trado insisted on its decision being adhered to. Tlio matter, however, has not been allowed to re-it at that, and I have been in further communication with London regarding it, and have just received a cable from tho High Commissioner, reading as follows:— "With referenco to your telegrams of 22nd December and 23rd Dccornbcr, on j subject of tonnage and dismemberment, I have made urgent representations Board of Trade, asking for immediate reply and will telegraph as soon as possible. With increased facilities for purchaso of our meat mentioned in produce cablo of 13th December, it is hoped that consumption will increase and stores becoino less congested, and as a result ships will bo discharged with less delay and bo moro quickly availaWo for return to New Zealand." I will bo pleased to adviso you fur-1 ther when the reply of tho Board of irado comes to hand. Could wo only bo i assured of sufficient shipping to keep the storage position right during tho season tho reversion to the practice of freezing in the entire carcaso would bo of advantage in allowinz the purchasing public in Great Britain to become nccustomed to New Zealand meat m its best marketable condition before companies again have to go upon tho open market. But it is fully realised that this is only one factor in the whole question, and that it must be dealt with from every point of view. You can rest assured that tho matter is having the fullest attention. Pleaso accent my best wishes for tho New Year.—Yours faithfully, (Signed) W. F. JJASSET, Prime Minister.

The following is a copy of a telegram forwarded to Mr Massey on tho 6th inst.:—

"Referring recent correspondence regarding instructions cease telescoping, position is increasing in gravity. llopo strenuous measures will bo taken to protect freezing companies and producers. Consider Dominion should not be kept in ignorance of cause of failure by British authorities to relieve situation and futuro intentions in regard to the wholo trade. We havo received tho following cable from our London resident agent:—'Frozen meat storage: There is no improvement. Fourteen meat ships cannot dischargo, including Tainui. Corinthic, Ivumara; arrived hero twentv-fivo days ago.' "

Tho following is a copy of a telegram received from Mr Massey on 6th inst.:—

1 banks for telegram. I have cabled urgently to High Commissioner regarding subject matter of telegram roceived from your London resident agent, and asked him to advise mo at onco as to actual position,' when, if necessary, further action can bo taken at this end." v

In response to a request for permission to publish this correspondence for the information of all interested in tho frozen meat trade, Mr Massey replied:—''l have no objection to publication, hut I think it ought to bo homo in mind that the Imperial authorities aro endeavouring to make up the loss due to alterations ro telescoping carcases, by increasing numbers of insulated ships, which will be nvnilablo for New Zealand during tho next Tew months, and this, of course, is nil important."

MEAT IN STORE

STATEMENT BY PBTME MTNISTEB.

Statements havo been made regarding tho shortage of space in tho frozen meat stores which, it is said, will lead to difficulties before -the season is over. The exact position, the Prime Minister informed a Wellington "Pobt" reportor on Saturday, was shown in tho following official statement: —

"The quantity of meat, in store on December loth, for -which no shipping space allocations have been made, was 3,93 C»0lb freight carcases. As much of this meat is telescoped k for tho purpose of arriving at the space occupied in the works, this quantity is reducible hv approximately 70,'),0(:0 TOlb carcases, leaving :i net amount, not provided for 011 December 15th of 3,*-31,39S roib carcases. The total storape capacity of the works is at present 7,713.307 OOU, uncut carcases, so by reducing this latter quantity by tho 3,231..»3'> carcases previously ""referred to, a balance is left capable*of accommodating 4.183,978 OOib uncut carcases." It. is known that there is ample storage spneo in England for frozen meat; and if there is any congestion it is in the London stores nlone. Apparentlv there is some difficulty in handling cargoes at some of the United Kingdom ports, and this may lead to shipping, delays, in effect reducing the efficiency of tho tonnage: but no other difficulties ; are known.

There i- nothing definite as yet regarding tho extension of tho Imperial meat purchase. The Ne-,v Zealand Government is pressing fur an early decision. but the latest advico received this morning by cable from th<* High Commissioner give.- little information. It is as follows: —

"With reference to ynur telegram of Pecombcr L'3rd, the Hoard of TYade states that tho who]- question of extension of meat contracts is at present before tho Imperial Government, and t!:ey cannot, give a dennito replv yet. Thev. however. rm'Tit out that in anv ca.ii-" the I'.o aid of Trarlc will l,c responsible tVr the shipment of any meat purchased under tho present agreement and in cold storage in New Zealand ou Juno 30th-"