A N.Z. TRADE COMMISSIONER IN ENGLAND

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2885, 25 September 1916, Page 3

A N.Z. TRADE COMMISSIONER IN ENGLAND

OPPORTUNITIES BEING MISSED. Sir, —With your permission, I would like to make- a lew remarks on the leading article, of September 21 re a Trade Commissioner m London. The proper disposal of the Dominion's meat surplus is a vital question to the ever-increasing number pf producers. Tho war'has brought into the limelight tho out-of-dato methods employed by us, compared to our rivals, who import meac into the Old Country. The oftquoted remark, "London is the world's market," is perfectly true, if qualified with the addition "for the best." Applying the latter term in the meat trade, means anything small aud choice of the two; sizo is the great factor determining values for London and its chief outlets, viz., the fashionable residential areas in Surrey, Sussex, and South Coast watering places. At present the big industrial areas, Yorkshire and Lancashire, are reached secondhand, and not catered for by New Zealand exporters as they should be'. In these densely-populated areas are districts that are the best customers in the world for certain lilies of meat, not, by any means first-class, but it's what tiiey want and will have. For instance, every Wednesday Wolverhampton you will sec hundreds of fat rams and ram tegs that are collected from all the southern counties being sold at prices that are about equal per lb. to the best wethers. The demand is there, and that one article is worth more there than anywhere else in the British Isles. So one can go on enumerating Glasgow, bulls; Liverpool, light-weight fleshy ewes (Cheviots); Yorkshire collieries, fat-heavy owes; Sheffield, heavy fat cows; Newcastle, heavy lambs, and so on. A Trade Commissioner (meat) should probe out these and many other limrkots, and should be able to got a consignor into touch where his consignment would be properly appreciated, no matter if it is lamb or ram, ox beef, or old cow, it is all wanted, and only requires judicious placing. Take, for instance, Dutch Bobby calves—the averago New Zealand farmer would call them rubbish, and'worse. Yet, see the thousands sold every season at prices that put 30s. and upward into the Dutchman's pocket (money for .nothing, as no value for consumption' in Holland), and provides a profitable line for the retail butchor. Wo put hundreds of tons into tins that would sell 100 per cent, better in carcass form if placed on tho rightmarket, and not quite so much red tape ro inspection. The, tinned article never takes the place of fresh meat in a butcher's shop. The whole thing, condensed, resolves itself, that either tho New Zealand producer, individually or collectively, must place his goods in the right pitch; to 'reap the full benefit or let someone olse do it for him; in other words, give the job to the Yanks.—l am, etc., -' SAM S. .TBIBS: , Taihape.