FROZEN MEAT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 730, 1 February 1910, Page 7

FROZEN MEAT.

%^«?j ; A .DOMINI6NVpON FERENC^:,;,,''. ■ ; 'i-;y : f The '-report by the ■ Press As--V"eooiatibn.;of y'.held-riniiChristchuroh/an';'" ■vfrozen'Vmeatvtrade -being "inadctiuato to v,; the.-.impprtanco of: the (subject,',.we havo ; i ' i; ".prep'ared'. ; ~';:; discussion/:'-from' i ;-.tJfe''-Tep6rts.:;-of'Christ; , .- -church.:papers.'-;'The'.chairman's address, ■'. •", ofi •wliich; 'a '-'suinmary■••has :ljeen" already ;nptygiveh; : again.: >;:;;::■-;;:, S/ itVThe;Vfirst; remit; cohsidercd was - that iV.fromijthe'Scargill farmers' "-■frozeh'nieat should.be consigned through :. von-organisation', of producers ,or a Far- 1 '■:': rners':-.Co-operative,: distributing: Associaji.tion,.'in; order :.to'bring-.the .producer and:::.the:consumer:into:closer touch': and that !.•accompany;-.shoiild.i bei.,formed:ipr.i.that: :::i:P'nfpos6.;;ifSnecessary.":V , -:^v;:; '■*,'■"'■■■■■' -.• : - ; - H ■":; 'tho!remit,vMr'.'G. Sheat, a' I :;;"representative .of: .the Nprth : Canterbury :-"..:iFarmers'.ilUinon, said the : . Scargill'Union .vticon.siderediit-;was: highly ■■■ desirablei that. ;.; : ■ some; meansl; should be to;', pi-e-, •V..vent x the;.-r'{-petition<of '.- such;• an occur-i'vfJrence';as-:.thiitPreferred to 'by the:chwir■y" man,iv when'.il',2o3,ooo. .'.carcasses, -were. :-;N:dnmped/:,upon l -tho, market 'within :. the' Xrjshprtvispace;'of:f-thr«b^months.::-' He;; be-: : : ;'lieyed,..tnat..it':was practicable^to form a % ;• cpmpaiiyj to ; . the distribution •of ij; ? frozen"f:meat/:and:on6 : ". : of- the first'{esseii- : '-enQh: a:'6chome: .wonld be .exten-

:.'!'.:Eive:,;cool;:storage capacity;.. : :'..,. . : ' : .' : ; CV?:>vMr. ; "Hi: Acton-Adams:;(Scargiir-Farm-' Y> - ers' Y, Union)'.- secohde'd./'the' motion."' Ho '..; : :'."..;.«»nsidei^-.;.thV ; only-rpracncei.'.method of V;;; o6ntrolling;:the. output v was ;by.; fixing, the. 'i :■■_ export 'from'day;to .'day,;, as was: done in : ■-■;-K the": Argentine, r> ; At present' there'.was" mo r:v'-.Araothod.V whatever., in r the-. Dominion. <:■ •■ If, •:'•■': 'was.,desirable..thiiit-some-'system of'grad.;;3;'inK;:'should:be:;established; ; ,j He."did; riot' fR'/'.-thiiilii iritioh'- could *be" expected' . : : : : frpjn' -■the-shipping • and .frcezipg -. conipan-v:-;--'!:ies:<-*ta,M;; :■.;;.'■.:'-:■.. '.:.'■ -■:,'..■■■ ..■."-■ --.•,.:- , . ■; j : ;:'-: : .')'Mp7I ■ ;. , ;:^iers v : .<Unipn),:said ■ he ; .would:'lD:o to';seo |; : '-' c;the'::ineat'?:better.:jhandled:. at-the otherS;;':ehd: ; -:;fcDuring>a. visit;to ;Smithneld:he : - : ;'-; had. seen: meat exposed-for sale; that ;was .;■ v;..; not. At-f or-. cpnsumptioh. '-■'-, -: .'..•- .... •'; r> proposed ::.;' l : Qomnany:" would r>securo: control of -.-• tho ;?;,,■!whole'of tho 'Dominion's/export of meat, -V. .but, the'desired * result'would ibe! obtained Vr; r -!tf ; .a : ;:;:v..:-influence*]the'.-inarket ■beneiiciallj'! '.X '■'•■' .;.:;^ftM;N;;ProduceryNqtv : Getting:-ya!ußi",v; :,; ; f Pastoral -'Association), said:: that .;■:. '■■ feeling'that', tho '■■;:'■ '■■ \ producer; was ■ licit ;r(iceiving 'value ',. for 7: his -^;■ ; ■■wMt■ i ;in~■^pp■o^Kpi■:tbitliβ■■■p^ce , s''^p.!lid : lj;■ ;' ; ,.; the '/consumers. TAt'i the' that ,wvthe::martetAvras;Topprtetl. "to.'"be glutted x^.wittlNew'-Zeiiland/meat,. a meeting of;tho, ;;:-.i. ; London /Borough:, .Councils was 'held,' at :,".,>;'.:■ jWhich' it Jwas rosolred that. tho meat■ sup:iivWy of the metropolis was unsatiifactoryi ■; : V:'/ , bo .jyVasked,to."relax the restrictions, on the imr I

f:.;,. portation* of '.battle for 'immediate slaugh-' v/:Vter. v ;;VfAlthough'.thera:had.been' an over-- ;.,';.. production!Vpf. New, Zealand meat,, there no':/reductionv.in ; .'the retail l:^:''; prices ; with'a; : view toi'stiintdating'an ih.o y_ creased . There ■, wore then % : r : ,.:!.the.-facts'; that:;-the;;Domiiiipn'si,sheop-, j,.':'! farmers, lad suffered an aggregatoiloss .of ■:,."one-:million'[pounds, ;of~-which' tho -con-! X : :7: Burners had received qo benefit, and "what ■■•-.:'.'~.,the^^'conference' now-wanted to .know was ;Sv where ■ that, '/million ..pounds'had gone; >■:,;!'The^Americattibeef,intrust .already'■ conof. the/export ; from'the and; i!tho! Zealand Vpro- : *c,ombirie-: : and : £ght' this ■■^-j , <,■■/>( -. ■- --,; °; ;-.,- :■ .••

'.;:■-'•Mr..'.W:fD; Xysnar. (Gisborne , Farmers'.. had! ; aa' t Jannual: aiset'-in- its-frozen' m?at .varying !.- : from "three' to:nye millions, .'and; that' :-• asset.' ; vfas one' that - was ...well - worth' pro-; , ;!•'tecting."SH6'• had Most : all.'confidence'. 1 in ..i the 'manner ;was i, handled ton ■ the ft markets, - and .'".Biucliv. benefit -J would : bo ■•secured '■ if i the

■^e.\of'. : th9\"ineat ; '.TOS'"ipToCprly..c(mduct'i. : e'd; /:-■: The'-. nncleu's, of■ that 'desired control

; ?v : !,ii'ffas, : she i r.believed,' -found' tho V-'. : r : f->'-Bn^ffi;;:an4^-New'~i-Zoaland : .'-Meat'..':CQm> •..;.?;j::pa'ny;"'!,!;Theuprbducer : :did;ibt object' to ;; : ;^npayin^-iors:dama'ge-: ; to'V, ; his!vnieatj ; ;but ' : ;-: : : there ..appear^---.to! be'something'-wrong :,:;t,:V when;Vdeductioii3 iweieSmade' on.:'evety t ■ ■'~.'■; !■; shipnient'-averaging' between'-10 and , . ■13 .'■'": 'i r Pe'.lcent.":.ltV;had_l)een; proved,that bno : ! ; .British '''companyv-Had : ! made!"deductions. ;..:< 'for '-":■ damage..■ :in:- :'.one> ; - year ..-.'-amonnt- : : ; there.:had'! been :..>■: : ;.:-oq.c;damage.:;- at:.i!allyfinv'many -cases.' ":!■!.',,The. .first- step-, towards the''.protection'of "■■•".■;'--:.: ; .the':.'p'jipauoer;'-wae'.:effi^i«iit..-gr'adJiig, ,: '>iid disiri::.;;,',vbutipn?.",'!:Ee' propo6«l•".ai:.amendment! to' Sv: "!.'! ; ;tlie"imotion;;tfiat -thei, -words "and , sold as' ;. :L ;!:!i;jfai:;as'ppssible"- 5 ehouldbbe'added!after ?:;'ft;:the ■;TVOTd - ;."oonßigned.".>/! ; K : : .■.';-'.: ••■' ■■!!■-"/ '-•'.-."■'■ .i .;■::■-: The'mbver.-of -.the: motioi he' : h,ad ;,::>C;,.BO ; ;;:ibjection' to-his;motion;■:; being•;■; a> >::"!.;:;;:: fv;-;?-!!^.'-^/!-:!y: ■■/'•■';--^^ Appbintmerit.of vCpmmitteq;.■; ■■■''[:■■ .'. ; ■ : ..' ; ;.J\Mri^J;'f : -D.'.^Hall'''! : .■'■•; '&■' Wralc'ani;Pastoral Association); said the ■/ : '■: ■....Canterbury •rAgrioultural : and .'Pastoral

:% : put forward a reimf.that y-: ; .;;';i;e''i<»mmttiße''6Hould : ':-.be';'apppSa i ted , -,to!'iii-. ■■:• - ; .. Squire Unte; the! adyisablencss of forming :'t'v 'i.aii.:pr^anisatipn;!for'tho'purpose! of 'pro-. : ;;:r : : : teiting; the: interests": of: the "•.producers. .';,;'.Much.betterCresults,could!bp obtained,:he

-\*V'ccii^d'erbdV'-.by>'SiicK' : aY6ct!hmittee''-ineetiiie : ■;■.tiat'eveninj;;and ! prcsen-tihs a.: report to !^ithe'Mßf^enpo..oii''-tK«|. i {pll9iviiig'.dayv;.;:. : '-. s'Sy-It.;;iirasV:agMcdvtlwi'f:tliev ; fiTst"' : 'i:«]nit, :-.ihbuld ■ ■■. be:;'carried as a .'• recoimnendation .: .to: the proposed of inquiry. ■■'-'■ ';:yMr:iKinfo63 British and 'iittn- ■ :,but€d ■ the:' sharp -dropv. last' year .on' the yilioiidon'.niavket.to:.the inevitable rule:Vof: -:-Bupplyvandi demand,:^vhioh.Ti-oTild;occur iin::aiiy.'trade. >'■■.■'<■■■'-■''?■.■'.'■■,:'■. ..".■ •',:,•• ■ '.;- v vMr; :' r J6hn Taltot : ;.(Sonth:::Ca'nt(!rbury ; :itvlvould :bb'/im:'•■■practicable to sug^eßt-'-.a'TVusihess"• for the ■.■•.whole.ofvtho the prcducor .'. .would; jiot -have his hands, tied, and-ho : ; wonld' .JiayeV;to bs 1 loft free. ■,• It was; a iTeflection; ori tho-big.,firms;to >Eay that poi -fdono their; bost -to get • : iid-.ol; tho. stocks, on:the London .market,' V but' if; they 'did: not; then; ; the -time would ■ ;* ; be.:rii>e.-:to:;forni'a'business.'.-.'; ',■■'*■'■'.)■-._ ■■'■■'■

.-,.; ■ii : i- : };i: lA.vthO/V'courseSiOf:. further : ■:,;;;',tie-chairman .'agreed; ; to' take'■;.the .third V/j'-remit,: which- was Mr;« A.. , :: \ : ;v Chamberlain-: (Canterbury -Agricultural ■n--:''\ and jii Pastoral ; -Association)—"That".;.a •-;?V''';<Sbmmittee-.-be^appbinted.-iwith-:o;(view-'pf- ; .-;?, r ?ing"an'organisation ;for the purpose? of -i ;'■protecting: tho .interests' of • the ■■ producers, ..'.' '■;and'.thqt::such •commi.ttee : be felected-: :by . ■;.;; : ballot oil- the firstiday,of.the^conference. :.- .;'.'Mr.:;Chamberlain:nameda-.9bmmij;tep;of ■:'.,:-twelve, 'with-, six': members, -from.■,'eacb... ,• '.'' '-■' island.,-J.V , •'■'■'!'••'■:-'.':'- : ' '. " -' : -'--'!, '■■'.''''.'■ -'-j ■'■/■■■.''•' -■'■■■ •=■ --- : - : ; Mr..: J: J Talbot seconded 'themotion. ■. . V% :;:*.Mr.; Fivdo '■'■ 'C'.-.-vMalet;■; (Christchurch : .'■;'>:';'. Mea,t : Company) said it would bo fiitila to. !c& got -up .a'.committee and •< hope i that .it ■,-.';; 'could;-'for; some -time; at least, , deal with ; :'.i-question:of, this nature.' ,: Various'-in-"•'■■:■■'".'/:■quiries?would:r.'have :tQ be-.made. : Ho '}'■■;;:'\- suggestdd that', there 1 should be an addition ; J": :to-the/.motion,' naming the -time when ,;; : v should, report,, and to whom '■:■■ ~<it should'report, v' ;.v.; ; ,;:--.: ■'"■- •-,.. '• v siiferyl v;; Attitude of, Companies.'-;. •;■.'•... ~'■ '/ : i; r Thb Hon/' T. : Ifackenzio said. that Mr. :.'-.'••'. I';Mal«t had: mentioned the fact that there ;: - :i ,»rero igreat. obstacles',in the: way; of-the : ' ■'"-/ -jommitteo,. and.tha.t -v/as. not ; noutral or ,■■.:-■ progressive, or assist the pur,- ■ pose: for. -'.which : the ■ conference had ; been ~:::.;; called."-.Those interested •■,■ in .tho . New :•• ;■ : Zealand'ineat trade desired, to listen to tho •;■>.-■ '■/■ ; , grieyarices of: the producers and' to gather /• ■'enlightenment'from: men; in the position v .'j of Mr; -Malet. .Charges Had.'been made ■ "- jthat'ought;to bo.answered, namely, that ; : ■"-. I there ; "was:,ah -unfair" proportion between . ■ :■: the prico'realised at Home and the .price '~■' returned,to the producers, l and also that ■ -.':; :. there;had.;been,:.unfair claims.' .."Those ■ -":" • people -who' have been. \ entrusted, for a :; '■• considerable: time,"with ■• the handling of - - ■: - bur ■-"'■ meat,";: .continued; :: the: -Minister, / •'•-■'..' "sbould.be.prepared' to give, us some';en- : ;:: ■" ijglitenment ,as a. guide..'to., those who have . .'•■: ■; come to at - this: conference." (Ap- . --,: - ■:.'plauso.) '■•''.' : ■-,- -- ; v - ; -.' : .--.':: :-■:' ~< '■ ■ .'■■■■ ;.: ■;. Mr.-. .'Matet said: that :. what .' he ;had : : v .meant to' imply was: that, being present • ■''■" in: a dual capacity,: it -would not bo.- de- .' ■.. eirable for .bun .to .take an active ipart :':.':: .;;in tho /.discussion. . Some further,, raa- ■ '.'■ : : '- -chinery than the'clause should be added. ■-.-■.' : : As.to wliethov he should, or-'should not ::. ■'■:'■'.- take part in" the discussion, that'was. a -'■"■}'•■ :. matter riot for. the Minister:for Agricultaste. ■•■ .';■.-■ ■■'-. V•■;■''■'■;■ ''-Mr.'.ljysnar said:it was an old nintter '''\fJ-~-. , with -the companies, and they should have r■' '; detailed information ready. It was the

'want'.of this information that led'to confusion, and there was. n.growing feeling; in. the .dominion, that it was tho desire." of ;'soino of those interested in the tiado.Hhat. this ■ confusion: should continue,: and that the light of day. should :riot be.thrown on the matter. ';' ; • ': . "An Unwarrantable presumption." ; Sir George Clifford (Canterbury Frozen Meat. Company) said .that ■it was;. an. uri'warrantabfe.presumption.to say that the freezing companies .wore, withholding information. ; . They wore as much, if not moro, 1 interested' than anyone else in the prosperity of the trade, and any information would be freely granted to any. coni : , mifcfcee set up by- the conference. -.. (Hear, hear.) Questions- might be asked which required a great deal; 'of consideration and reference'to figures before they could be satisfactorily answered,"- arid he did not think that:a question asked<..at'tho 1 conference : should. bo answered by any rsuresentativo of a .freezing .company consideration* :for only a studied .answer, wonld be useful. to the; commit tea in making a permanent recomraenda-, tiori.iTho freezing Companies were themselves as.;keen -that the. farmers', interests should bo 'conserved -as' anybody, because their interests were bound up with tho prosperity of the trade and the profit of the producers. : ;.V - : ..!■ . ■■■'■-.. Mr. F. da C.Jlalet; s'praliing on behalf Of'.. tho Christchurch Meat.. ; Company,also' undertook, to givp any" information that, was within reason to . assist the "committee 1 in framing a report. •■"-; i, ; : ,: Mr. ;N. .Kettle. (Napier ,:Chimbcr. of .Commerce) urged, that a permanent com- , , mittee ishould bo appointed;tq extend its; inquiries' to. London., .: -. v . ■ !■ •'' ■'■: ■.The.third ;reuiit : was.carricd without , dissent;. G-. .-■'.'. : :- ! r,.:iA' •'■ •■■..-■:■. ■;■.:;.■ , :? -

■ The ■: committee"; was, elected as : follows:— ; :"':. : ■'.'.•. ':■■:"■.:. :.•":■''■.■ .'■"■.''•■■'.■■.■.■ •: North Island.—Messrs.:- J. Q.-. "Wilson, E.. D;: D. M'Lean, E, :A. CampbEll, A. ■Borthwick,; J.Barugh,. : and'.W.;G: Lys-. nar. :.',-;-..■ -. \ ■ <■-.;'■'. ■■ ~' ;.'■■' ■■• '. ; »South ..Island.—Messrs. D. .D. Slacfarlane, ■ J.: D. .'Hall,. J. : C. N. Grigg, > 1 , .' iWaymonth, and 1 G. Jamesoni and Sir G-eorge Clifford;, ;• ,': . ■: .-, > ■■■,:■:.'.';'.■'■■.:. Tho first remit was, -then carried, amended as, -follows:—"That frozen meat should bo consigned pr.sojd 'as far -as possible: through; an organisation of producers, or a. farmers', co-operative distributing as-, sbciatioh,-; in: order to bring the producer and the' consumer. into'. closer touch, and that.. a ■ company should be' forme'd .for that .'purpose if "necessary.'■'.' This .'resolution to ■'.be -referred to; a'.committee." ';'.. : Pfoppsed Advisory. Board arid Board of ; . ■-■'■■■ ;7;'-"-:. , ',V:-.".Conir6.l..''.:'' ; . '/";■■ ■'';•:. ; ■ Mr;: v H. v : D..-' Vavasour (Marlborpugh) moved:—"That, in -, the opinion of tnis conference, it.'.is. advisable .that.an Advisory :. Board, shpnld ;bo -formed ..an Lon-' .don'.. and ;a' Board . of". Control in ■■,■ New Zealand." ; Hβ said that:he knew.-from his -.own . experience :that' New Zealand meat, -when : pufc upon'-.the -market,- compared most ■ unfavourably ..with American meat arid Argentine mutton that was'un'der ."constant supervision', from, .the ''ducer'to the consumer. The appointment pf twp'such-bodies as he.proposed would; secure: the proper .regulation of the• supply ..from the '. He was .satisfied that such. a scheme: would be produotivo'.pf,.immense benefit. .< , : -J ; ,

"Mr: ijL. I). D. M'Leaii.(Napier) seconded the motion.; ■; ■^■'.' : .; , . i ;;•■ ■;'.. :,\ ' - : ; .v

-A Mr.:' VV. S. 'Hampson (Nelson. Freezing Company) saidVthat something on'the Jines. suggested! would be the only way of'effectually sbMng; the! problem. Oufside competition. could 'not, be faced, but internal competition might bo' reduced to a minimum,,- He■ did .not'see .why there should-not be clearing houses in Now Zealand, and'lon'don,, controlled by -, a 'New Board, 'the London house' to make the price.daily. C.i.f. buying .difficulties, but .producer's and: companies ..would hayo to' -put', their heads .together,', and possibly make little concessions, .to ■ overcome ' these'': difficul.ties.;.' The- advisory : board would receive. complaints, and make investigations regarding, damage,' insurance, and so oh, ; and.' supervise ~the.. supply generally; ■•-;

' : -i •:;'.-&■: ■'■-■•'Asains't-jthe.Scheme. : , ; ;;;. ;h.]^i.. ; ;%. 'Murray : (Christchurch Meat Company)' said that•■ he-''did:;not : "und6r-, stand - what ■ powers' the Board' of '■ Control in.:: New Zealarid was' ; to'have. The' idea seenie<l:'{o be that'.it 'shoiiia act'- 'as'a board of rtrustees with the -power of pn* pnetorship ■forthe whple;of iJeii; Zealand. They : must' considiv 'first, the .growers, then .the;.bayors,-ap!d;;Eo'. on; : .'and it 'was nort likely":' that, ■ these 1 ' varied,■;';interests would., place'all;their property, in tho handsof the' bpafd without control over it. ■Hβ would also like.to'know,.whether. South Island conditibna at'tho samo time would coincide with North , Island conditions, ' It was a!.question also whether they had the right to hand over private i'intereste in the way. proposed. The proposal would.entirely: upset tho.conditions of tho meat- trade, -although they, might not be .perfeot,vand! they could not expect to* do more: in! one year ; ,than : had .'been ■ done'-:m : '! twenty■'years. ■..■-.'■.■:.., .•.•■ :Mr.; .1. ,Q. Wilson (Wellington). did! mot I think, tHat-,ahyone:,anticipated the. possibility, of! controlling! the. trade: of .the. Dominion in, this way. . Suoh a\ scheme might ..JhAvo been . practicable': .twenty years previously,'but if it w.ere attempted the prosant time it would. break .down of its owni.weight. : Thero,, weroj. a. :variety of combinatioLfl, to:;d«al with; ,■ and::the,only Eucoes3fnl\way to contend with tlieni was by. farther, only combination th.it had any hope' of. success was ono. BJnons,freezing, companies. .'.He thought fiat, .the companies would 1 recognisj ■ that:- it: was : in-", the inteije'sts ■ of the .farmers and ,of .themselves that ■ they should arrive at some. arrangement among theinselves .by..which the export'.from the DomiJiion- would bo regulated. ' It' was surely better to sto're meat in New Zea-. land'-: at .cheaper;' rates, than' in-London.' Thero. wore many;!pther ways in wjiich such a iCQ-operatibn would- to , advantageous.;;! There !wero.. combinations 'in cbmpotition with them that! indirectly affected: the sheep-growers,!' and .by associating the freezing companies ■ would find fthomsolyos in' a much stronger position to the interests of-themselves and of -the'farmers. - ; :'.'■ '■'■'■■■.. '■ '.'-.• ■'-.■ ■■;>"■'■'■', ■■'■:

.'.Mr. Vavasour, in reply to lit..Murray's remarks, said that, ho did not.suggest an arbitrary;-board, but merely, one; invested , witb. . ptmers 'given'it i by. the freezing companies themselves.' .' ■ .■ ' .-••':'■ : L V.Mn; J.: G, Wilson's: Motion.: : . Mr.)' Wilsoir proposed "That representatives of' the .-.various freezing couipan-. ies' present:, bo "asked to meet together, during'tho sitting of the conference >yith the view, 'as far as .possible, of: associating to. control the export of frozen meat, and acting on the defensive when neces-. sary..and generally protecting the joint interests the' producers' and •' themselves."- . ■■...'■"■■■:■■■.':"."•.■" '.-"': ■■■'■■ ■;.' ■{,::■ ' ■:' '; ';. Sir; George Clifford.- (Canterbury. Frozen Meat Company) objected to. the re'marks of Mv. Wilson, placing the freez-. ing.cdmpanies anil producers in a position of antagonism. ' Any such suggestion waa, absolutely unfounded. as . regards the South Island, where ncarly-every member of the companies, was a producer, whose personal interests 1 were much more bound up-in the success of: the trade .than iii that 'of the -company. - ■ Tho Board of Control would be a very dangerous implement to introduce into the trade. No New Zealander;should say that.the' trade was.in.-a precarious state; -The basis of New: Zealand's prosperity had been the marvellous : success ■■ of this trade, and a temporary reverse should not. mate them less sanguine for . the future. One of tho secrets of success had been. the open ,'door and free competition.. .New Zealand welcomed buyers, and speculators .from air parts to take its meat, and jf they .werev not given a. free hand in their operations their success would bo checked and tho prices they' could pay for the meat would be diminished. The conference, should "consider very seriously before, altering, the mode of that'trade. Tho farmer had free access to the market, and if ho did v not. like tho price of the speculator he could ship'on his own account. ■ :Tho producer was not in the same position in' any other part of the world. Anything like a duplication of the present freezing accommodation would cost-half a million of money, and it would have to bo an annual chargo, only useful, Bay, once in fivo years. Ho did not think that as far as Canterbury was concerned:storage had ever been refused by any company. : Mr.: Wilson, expressed regret that he

had given expression to an antagonism towards the freezing companies. After further discussion the motion was declared lost on a show of hands, :,':■. '.■■.-■' ; , Cold Storage. . On, b'ohalf of tho Canterbury -Agricultural''And Pastoral Association, Mr. P. Waymouth moved as a recommendation to the. committee that it should considor the question of- cold storage- ac-

coinihodation in London for the use of New Zealand exporters of.:meat. Tho great handicap to the success of the trade was the desire of the farmers to preserve the individuality of their: produce". The only way that tha best could be mado of, tho meat was by a judicious system, of pooling that ..would obviate the necossity fonthe variety of; sub-marks that caused the confusion and damage in handling that had been so bitterly complained about. . The present system : of shipment necessitated much larger storage accommodation, in order that the .multiplicity of small lpts might be distinguished. /' • ' ■'; ■■■'■: . ■ Mr. Grigg seconded the. motion' pro fornin. •.: . ■ ■'' . ''■■;'.'■ The motion was carried. . . Mr. Lysnar moved, on behalf of the Gisborno and Nelson Farmers' Unions, "That it bo a recommendation to the committea that steps bo taken to concentrate our export of meat at a depot in London, as far as possible." Mr. A: Burnett moved a similar mo-tion-on behalf of the; Wanganui Agricultural and Pastoral Association, urging the establishment of distributing depots at Home for meat and other products, as a. means of securing bettor prices. Doth motions were lost. :;../;.- A Minority Report,. On the second day of the conference, Messrs. J. D., Hall; and ,\V. D. Lysnar presented the following minority report on Remit No. 1 (Scargill Farmers Union), in addition to the committee's main report (published on Saturday) frozen meat should bo consigned through an:.organisation of producers, or a far-, mors', co-oporative ! distributing association.'.in ordorto bring the producer nod the consumer into closer touch; and that a- copipany should be formed for that purpose if necessary." . The minority agreed that the present facilities for the disposals of frozen meat were sufficient, but considered; that there were grave de-. foots in the. methods of sale and. claims for damages, as well as storago in London, as well as defects in grading and storago in New> Zoaland, which urgently required; iminediato consideration,; in order-to protect ; the interests of tho. producer in.securing for him a fair ; price for ■. his produce. They considered that this could best bo done in the following manner:—(a) By- arranging with an institution carrying on its business on cooperative lines, whose interests' could not come in conflict with those of. the.produ'eersi' for iho sale of the produce in s England on a more equitable:basis than 1 at , present; (b) Arrangements should bo made , for proper and sufficient storago accommodation in England. . (c) It was essential , that stringent measures should b'e adopted by.the institution to prevent , improper claims s for damage being allowed,'and so obtain the benefits of inorp favourable rates of: insurance, (d). That step's should, be' taken, by a committee authorised to' make the necessary arrangements" for carrying" out the suggestions named. ~;. ■ ' .' ■•" ■ ■■■ 'A discussion took -place-oa'tho committee's report,"- which, as "stated on Saturday,.was eventually agreed to.' ■■;,'■ :■ 'In the course of tho discussion, Mr. R. B. Bennett said that Smithfiold Market was not dirty; as- had been'. alleged;. and the barges '.were all now insulated. ' Mr M.' C. Orbell , said that tho shipping interest loomed largely in Hie trade, and Avithout. tho -assistance of 'the shipcompanies the trade could..not be ■"llrfl'.-'de' C. Malet (Christchurch Meat Company) -said■ that-.the London ofßco established by his , company ■ had, been entirely successful in. controlling its.Bale.

/;. The Minister's Remarks. !■ ' ;ThV Hon. T;'Mackpnzio, ■ Minister 'for Agriculture,' .addressing! tho !" conference, said- he wished;to- allude particularly to tho rpmarks that the ordinary Urns of supply, and _demahd: obtained 'regarding the position 'of meat' in the London' market; or in tho markets of Europe. ' That was ; just' r what/did not obtain.; .Did not the; commission, which .eat in. Groat Britain to ' inquire': into tho . meat trade there,■and which was' presided.over by Lord Hugh Cecil, declare that?the: combinations in America, influenced prices in the. provinces of England? It'-.was, the law'.'of. supply and demand that,excluded "•; meat from. Franco . and .German ' countries/ and which : :\'m \;. the .meantime had consumed three-quarters of : their :6vn n>ck'...' Jet, on .account of their tarUFs and regulations,'they prevented a single ounce of New. Zealand s meat, entering their countries,'. where the;demand Tb'r'meat was so : great. '.'■■■■'.'■.'"■"■ .;■;.''' .Interference with Honest Trade. . Was it the law of supply and demand that enabled unjust claims, to l>e made and granted. on ; perfectly, sound.meat to the interference, of; honest' trade and to the .robbery' of the Dominion's farmers who .sent their meat into the Homo market? ; Waa it just that absence-of supply. and demand which people here complained about? . From " tho initiation, of tho 'trade: until now, tho demand had<-,been;,made for some central authority at Horned either in the shape of: a' board-or-an individual, to advise regarding ■ the * disposal of New Zealand's output. .That, .'of course, was a very largel : ordor. The;' operation. . of ■ Home meat firms, "■ buying •' extensively sheep and'lambs on the hoof in the Dominion, for freezing,: and.' shipment, formed an element \iyhich -must be given due ; consideration.:, in /.conpection. .'.with-.!-, anj scheme for, concentration. -. Those shipments, generally, speaking, might', be .said to lie outside 'any action that might be taken towards: concentration. .To what extent . that: class' pt business was''carrieti oh it was impossible for him to eay, but it would 1 be rknown .to freezing companies.' 1 ! ; '' ■'.'■' •'" ■■'■■■•: ..'.'.. . Central Market: Essential. /

He raight.,say. -from his-''own'experi-ence'when in London that it seemed to him at oiie time-, that the only possible thing 1 for - Now : Zealand .to ; a6jas a colony 'was to "establish, one central market through whioh the whole of': the Dominion's meat could "go. It' might Tie: ns well'to give the reasons which led him to come to. that-impovtant. conclusion. His 'first "experiences, in the sale,./of .New Zealand meat were not satisfactory'.' The system of disposing of .importations prevailing •' was to place, the .shipments in the hands of meat salesmon, who charged 2 per cent, commission on tho sales.. That system, however, was unsatisfactory in. many ways/chiefly because, whilst there; was a fairish price for some of th'e meat, it took a long time to dispose of parcels, and the price resulting from the sale of much of it was far below what was Teally considered, its true market value. Indeed, there .were those who declared that the price, realised by '. some of ..the salesmen was not duly accounted for. He did but little trading lines, and in place of that method'.adopted the ci.f. principle, which nominally secured for his farmer clients' the market • value of the meat. : .Ho used the term "nominally" advisedly, as claims were made for damages on nearly every parcel 6old, and occasionally a Second olaim;.was made on ■th 6 same'meat for "not up to quality." In, the latter case it meant two allowances' on the same meat. The, system of assessment also had' been' Unsatisfactory in the extreme, and still was so. An Advantageous Proposal.' After'those experiences it struck him that the only way to combat the existing methods was that they, ehouldssecure,if possible, a site handy to Smitihncld upon which a market for New Zealand, meat could be erected, and where the goods could be sold. He was able to obtain the option over.a piece of,land within fifty yards of-tho Smithfield. market, comprising 18,000 superficial feet, and conneoted by railway with, the docks where the frozen'moat was discharged. Tho idea was to have'cold stores erected there, and : a market where meat could bo inspected and bought. One of.bho. advantages of that, proposal. would have been that; instead of paying the rates of insurance then prevailing, anything from 505..,t0 803. per .£IOO, it would have been' necessary' to -have ' insured only against total loss. Tho schemo ■ was carefully worked- out, and the proposal ssconed to him to promise to give effect absolutely Uy what was required in order to place Now .Zealand's meat on a firm foundation,- and to bring to tho producera here the fnll market value. V .

Part of the policy in connection with the" establishment of those cold stores was' to obtain a Government 'guarantee in order that the financial operations in connection with'thorn might l>6 carried on subject to. a very low raio of interest. It might bo pointed m ' that the same proposal was now made to the Canadian Government." A recent cablegram bearing on the subject contained tho statement that it was proposed to form a company witlr a capital of 8,000,000 dollars (£1,600,000), the Government to euarantee

4 per cent, upon three-quarters of the capital. Hβ need not go into the details of Hie proposal. He felt persuaded, however, that had effect been given to. it it \vquld, from an investment point alone, have been a great success, and would at the same tinio havo brought benefit to tho producer's of New Zealand meat. A great deal of thought was given to the matter, and every, detail was carefully worked out on what were considered to be sound economic lines.

Problems for Consideration, i , Ths problem New Zcalanders had to consider was' how they could improve the present conditions. The . delegates would have submitted to them the question of pooling farmers' lots and grading up to a recognised standard. In that connection they: should insist on a provision being inserted ill all' conditiMs of sale requiring: the acceptance of grailo certificates, and no London arbitration, as, unfortunately, tho Home people had succeeded, in /having inserted in connection with the sale of New Zealand dairyproduce. There' was also the question of centralisation in London, which . was perhaps one of the most difficult problems to be considered. The success cf the' frozen mutton and lamb industry called for careful thought and handing in face of the increasing quantities that were being placed on the. Home jiarlwt. The marked increase of last year would have been greater if it had not.been,fof tho drought , in the. Argentine, which, togothcr with other '.causes,' was respfinsible for .a 'lessening shipment from that country of 400,000 carcasses to London. .Had that quantity gone . forward, cho quantity of stock upon the market would havo been beyond "the normal consuming ability of the British people: They must therefore agree .that the United Kingdom must see an abnormal develoonn-nt of her industrial, output and trade if fhe was to increase her power of Ija.iu'iintion. Happily, there were signs of trade recovery,'and the effects of :_he crisis qf 1907 on New.York were passing onar,

Minority Report Moved. , ' Mr. Lysnar, in moving tho minority report' as an amendment to Clause 3 of the main report, asked'tho members of the .conference to hold out a helping hand to tho producers. Up to the present no real aid had'been given, at the conference by the representatives o{ the".i freezing, companies or morcantilo gentlemen.' It was useless for the gathering to disperse without going any further, for :in that .event'nothinrrwould 'bo dono. Mr. J. D. Hall (Canterbury A. and P. Association) seconded the amendment.

■ Mr. J. G. Wilson (Wellington) ■ .said that the original report/ was passed under -a misapprehension so far ,ns ho was- concerned, Tor ,ho had interpreted- the proposal to mean that rf new company should be started, i He could not support -thai: In order to preserve their interests, the people engaged 'in;, the butter, industry nad subscribed to a fund ,to send a .man to England to. represent ' them. Every • year or two tho agent, re, turned to .New Zealand, and .made a. .confidential report to the subscribers to the fund, and by this morns the butter-pro-ducers were m a position to know in what manner their produce was being disposed of. , Hα thought it would 1 bo a very good result of the . conference. if the \farm,ers agreed to put their liands in their pockets >and.arranged to send a man Homo, on their own account to watch their interests in the position of a confidential adviser.. If this were done many of tho misunderstandings that. had arisen would be.disabusod altogether.' . •■ ' , "\ ' The''amendment;-.was_.lust. by ,12 votes to 25, and the committee's report was adopted, i; . . ■■.■,;' .;'•"..' '

.-. -Resolutions', were .adopted na'recorded in our report of Saturday last..

' > A Committee Appointed. ■ . : The following committeo was appointed to'confer with a compiitteo appointed by the freezing , companies to consider . tho federation of. tho meat fa'ado, questions of forms of bills of lading, policies of insurance, c.i.f.,'.and 'e,;contracts, btc., in accordance with Clause .2 of the committee's' repprj::— North. Island—Messrs. J. G. Wilson, N. Kettle, J. A;. Macfar-' lane,' ; J. :Roynolds, A. H., Eussell, and Isaac '■• Gray. South Wand — Messrs. D. D.-Macfarlan,e, J. 1). , Ha11, J. Talbot, A. H. Turnbnll, B. Evans, and, F. Waymouth. , "■' • '•■•.- '. ' ' .

Sir ; George Clifford said 'that he had to report that ivithout! a single dissentient vote,or argument tho rppresenta-. tiv'es of. • the. freezing companies had decided to hold a.- pieeting -.- for ,tlie purpose of considering the request of' th<i conference. 1 (Hear/ hear.) ;.: The Canterbury Frozen Meat Company had : been appointed. convener, and as soon, as the boards of the companies had time to consider the problem the meeting would be held. It would req,uire some little-time, but he could assure the conference that no time would be lost unnecessarily. (Applause.) ' ' . '.■'■ .