NEW ZEALAND MEAT IMPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 510, 18 May 1909, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND MEAT IMPORTS.

"WHAT'S TO BE DONE?" • [FSOM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT.] London, April 9, 1909. - With cold; stores overflowing, -and with little demand, 1 Now Zealand's frozen moat imports into this country during the last five months , show startling; increases. 1 Taking the period from November 1 to March 31 last, and compared with the corresponding period last ycar, ; tho.figures are; . ; Mutton, 1908-9 ..v "856,310 . Mutton, 1907-8 • ... • ... 516,775. /; Increase ... N ... 339,535 Lamb, 1908-9 ' ■■ ... 1,121,068 . Lamb, 1907-8 775,831 ■ Increase ... ... ... 345,237 Ueef (quarters), 1908-9 i ... 90,451 Heel' (quarters), 1907-8. ... 7 51,521 ' ..Increase ... ... 38,930. With such increases as : these, . and, with domand at zero,, it is no wonder, that representatives jpf: New;.Zealand-',houses; are at thoir wits' end to know what to do, and are /crying out for suggestions. But it, is ..too late now, though lessons for the future may be learned from the present situation. Tfie fact .'is, .New, Zealand meaji has too long lived upon' its reputation; and,; with increasing. .quantities 'of refrigerated;. meat .coming in from other quarters,', little; ;or nothing has been done of competitive moats, too, .has improved, ;and tho prices of them liavo' not gone upi, and thus it comc3 about, that mmtcets, which were': once at tho disposal of New 1 Zealand are now over-run- with Plato products. ■ ■ " Aid-.the fault of this- does not rest in ■ official quarters, so • much as' witli tho priiyate .firms themselves. , Mr. -Cameron,! tho Nevv Zealand ..Government; Produco Expert,' long ago advisedthe - giving of demonstrations,, with the Dominion's meat,' 1 in popuilops . Centres.. / But ~ his . .advice; was;- never ; taken. ■; There was a lot of talk about opening'meat shops; and /underselling 'one's own wliolesalo customers,' which-.did nothing-but get;up j" the ' backs of .those'customers." I hold no bnof. for Mr. Cameron. His idea of .demonstrations may be good or bad, but ho is. the Government expert, he has "had • unique experience of Now Zealand's "frozen meat."trade, and 1 he/'should: know. "Instead of ; that expertness ' and ; experience. appear j'ih. /the' eye's -.of many Now ZcaJanders to .be, absolute , disqualifications.' ; Aiid --particularly inv relation ; to' London,' :md"tho immense provincial towns, of all places in tho world, where -detailed experience is,' of all things, tho most requisite. •. What has. toon dono? In tho course of a good many years, two. attempts have been made -totipush, .by actuaKdemonstratiori,' thesalo of Now Zealand .fticat.in largo provincial centres—-ono of theso .attempts ; being madp in Manchester, and ono -in Cardiff:; The first ■'■Kfas. started by Mr. Caineron; tlio. second by. tho Christohurch'.:.Meat > , Company.. Each started with New Zealand's reputation ;,each; has now.-'lost'- its distinctive-New Zealand character; and each is now.a little .gold-mine'.to-its possessors. ' - . i ' Vet discount ' experience, while ftheir. representatives'; are crying "out "What's .-to lie. done?" • . • s . . W