PRODUCERS CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1183, 19 July 1911, Page 10

PRODUCERS CONFERENCE.

A meeting of delegates from brandies of tho New Zealand Producers' Association was held in Wellington yesterday. Thero wero present: Messrs. J. O. Wilson (in the chair), W. D. Lysnar, and J. C. Field (Gisborne), 11. D. Vavasour and W. Pollock (Marlborough), R. D. D. M'Lean, and L. H. M'Hardy (Hawko's Bay), E. B. Luscombo and G. B. Starkey (Canterbury). It was decided to approve the suggestion of Mr. Shelton (the London representative) regarding bag coverings for mutton and lamb carcasses. Various _ other matters were discussed. Ike.meeting was not open to the press.' 'A deputation subsequently waited 011 the Minister for Agriculture, but tho proceedings wero not mada public. In order to show the manner in .which a producer could suffer through injudicious methods of marketing, Mr. J. C. Field read a return relating to a consignment of mutton and lamb which lie had shipped by tho Matatua, and which had been sold in May (a month before Coronation time), wlum it "would be thought that good prices would bo realised. The charges 011 this consignment were:—Mutton, I.BBd. per lb.; lamb, 1.71(1. per lb. Tho mutton realised I.5Sd. (less than the and tho lamb 2.5 d. The averago weight of tho carcasses of mutton was 571 V)., and the lamb 321b. (the latter rape-fed). Tho'note giving the returns stated that some of tho. carcasses were damaged. Under tho impression that this might havo affected the price, tho bank which wus concerned wroto homo to the salesmen in London asking for particulars respecting the condition of the moat. The effect of tho reply was that only carcasses were damaged, and that as the parcel .was a small ono it was not thought advisablo to call for a special survey. It was decided to cable tho representative in London the committee's opinion regarding his report on the South-West India Dock. A letter was read intimating that, tho Hawaii Meat Company had let. tho contract for the supply of meat for tho American Army to a. party in Sydney, which the association's representative* had already advised was open to New Zealand.