IMPERIAL TRADE COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1964, 22 January 1914, Page 5

IMPERIAL TRADE COMMISSION.

FRUIT DISTRIBUTION. ~ INTERESTING EVIDENCE. By Telegraph—Pkbs Association-Copyright (Roc. January 21, 9.55 p.m.) London, January 21. Giving evidence beforo tho Dominions Trade Commission, Mr. Gilbert Anderson, representing the incorporated meat importers, complained of tho multiplicity of brands, which necessitated delay in sorting the carcasses. He suggested the grouping of small consignments. Mr. Anderson also complained that the dressing of New Zealand meat had deteriorated, through carelessness, and the high-class traders sometimes refused to accept delivery. Ono large importer had told witness that the superior dressing of Argentine mutton had added }d. per pound to the price. Mr. Georgo Munro, a fruit merchant at C'ovent Garden, combated tho statement made in Melbourno last May, accusing the Covent Garden auctioneers of selling to Australian shippers at a disadvantage. The statoment was preposterous. Commenting on tho evidence of Mr. Benson, the Tasmanian Director of Agriculture, the witness did not thinkthat the proposed distributing organisation would be any improvement on the present competitive system. Replying to tho evidence of Mr. .Tncohy, of Perth, Mr. Munro said that Hamburg, although able to distribute large quantities of the choicest fruit, was unable to keep up the average of prices of a. general consignment, as could London. Large Tasmanian consignments of apples had been diverted to London because that port offered a better market than Hamburg.