NEW ZEALAND MEAT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1643, 9 January 1913, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND MEAT.

A QUESTION OF CONTRACTS. Tlio question of branding New Zenland meat has created considerable stir in the trado, says the London correspondent of tho "Otago Daily Times," writing under dato November 22. Hitherto, says tho correspondent, tho difficulty has been to get New Zealand's interests protected, inasmuch as tho Incorporated Society of Meat Importers represents all tho interests in tho trade—River Plate, Australia, etc.—and apparently theso sometimes clash with New Zealand's. • j ' , A meeting, however, was held at the office of the Associated North Island Freezing Company of New Zealand on Tuesday, and was well attended by tile majority of the agents representing.North Island freezing companies. From the information placed before the meeting, it appears that' the bulk of the contracts of tho various institutions, boards of • guardians, hospitals, etc.,' called for Canterbury meat, and these contracts invariably called , for meat with the seals on.The Canterbury companies were, wise in adopting -tlois method of guaranteeing their meat and' securing the business. They have undoubtedly profited by it. ■It was reported that Canterbury meat was not always available, and contrac- . tors frequently havo to hold stocik for some time in order to fill their contracts. To protect themselves, they naturally charge a high price, the.benefit of which does not go to the shipper. At ono timo Canterbury mutton "was of an undoubted 'grade, higher considerably than tho'North Island, but during the'last few years the North Island has vastly improved,. not only in tho breding and quality of their sheep, but more particularly in tho grading.' ' " It was freely admitted that this cannot be applied to all works in tho Jforth; Island, but it is quite open for, all the North .Island worksfto bring their'grading up to a uniform high standard. The advisableness of protecting Now Zealand, meat, and ■ guaranteeing this to the large institutions by having the ticket attached with a seal was generally admitted, and it'.was agreed that if'the North Island ■ companies were desirous-ofy participating ■in this trade, they must, on their part, guarantee the meat to. the buyer by fix- f ing their tickets securely with the seal. Tho advantage of this/real is, that'should tho ticket be torn off tho seal is always available for. evidence. . . There was some i discussion' as to the substitution of inferior meat, especia'.lv from the River Plate, for contracts, hit there was no definite evidence brought' forth. Somb disputed the fact, but the present system leavesit/open to the contractor .to substitute inferior meat.' ; It was finally Tesolved that the High Commissioner's office fco askfcd to place, bj' way'of circular letter to the various agents representing the New Zealand ineat interests,; all information which they receive from time to time in reference to meat ooiitracts. . Tho agents representing tho various interests would then be left to urge tho inclusion of their particular brands from the North . Island or Southland in the contracts.' After the discussion. of the'above it'was felt that it'would bo advisable if the New Zealand agents ,nnd importers formed themselves into an association for tho purpose of watching and protecting the interests of the New Zealand trade, and n motion to this .effect was carried.