DO WE DEMAND TOO MU CH ?

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1676, 17 February 1913, Page 10

DO WE DEMAND TOO MU CH ?

FOR FROZEN MEAT. UNPLEASANT LETTER FROM HOME. Mr. A. Kaye, of Christchurch, has just received n letter dated January 3 from Messrs. Gilbert Anderson; and- .Co., of London,., dealing with tho frozen meat trade. : The letter -states:—

_ 'Wo regret that .the prices asked are cheokiiig business, and this, to our mind, 13 ft very serious matter. We therefor# hope that the season will turn more favourable, stJ that we .can place large quantities while, tho market remains at tho presont high-level. Wo. regret to inform you- that' a largo portion of tho trade is going to the River Plate, and wo coiisider' - this .'so' important that wo thought it advisable to cable you.. "We have reported from time to,time of several of the smaller companies having to take up Rivor Plato meat in the "absence of New Zealand meat, but ■we regret exceedingly to have to report that :onb of our best clients (a company who have the " very highest-class Shops, and. who have, confinal their operations in the past almost exclusively to Now Zealand mutton and lamb) has informed us that they will not touch a carcass of New Zenland mutton and lamb so long as; tho present '. prices aro demanded. They have already made arrangements for 'supplies of River Plate meat from the American iras; They regret as much as we do being forced to this, but what we fear-is that if New Zealand as a whole- insists on-prices which will not enable the retailer to continue in tho New Zealand, meat trade tho 6hops that we oponed exclusively :for the salo of .New Zealand meat will be used for the sale of River Plat# ... ' ■ ■

V"To lis it seems almost a disaster that this should -happen, and looking at it purely from , n business point of view we consider, it'a' national blunder. To our mind the main thing is." to keop the channels of . trad# open (> and to steadily try to. improve the price and the condition of tho business; On tho other hand, if the New -Zealander, through asks a price ' jvhich circumstances ;do not demand, it will in this channel (which has been exclusively for the,New.Zealand trade) being diverted, to that of the Biver Plate.

''Please remember that the New Zealand .shops hays been doihgV trade largely on the name and. reputation of the nicat. Meantime the freeze and the duality of River Plato meat havo decidedly improved, and -there is no' question but that the way in which; they HaVo their carcasses dressed is so vastly superior to that of New Zealand that .in this alone they liavo'the advantage. . '■ "We still believe that good prices' will be obtained throughout the season, provided the forward buyers have a chance of cov-ering a portion of their requirements, and the high prices, which - are ruling for "wool and, pelts should: enable tho New Zealand farmer to sell his stock at higher - values than he has ever dono -before, and. yet put'us in a position to, the trade. We.think it will be wise policy, to go' oil selling, because we believe that if the buyers are not steadily supplied there., will be "an accumulation of stocks here, and the future will become most uncertain."