NEW ZEALAND'S MEAT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 235, 22 June 1918, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND'S MEAT

REQUISITION TO CONTINUE. No definite information, has been received by the Government as to the completion of the purchase of next season's meat surplus from New Zealand by the Imperial Government. It is understood that the purchase has been practically completed on the terms of the purchase last year, but as Mr. Maesey hinted in his message of; a few days ago from London, there may be difficulties. Mr. Massey said on that occasion that "there was no question bf squeezing the producers," which should mean that something was likely to be attached as a condition of tho purchase which would not be pleasing to the New Zealand producers. It is not hard l» suggest some of the difficulties which may arise. By the end of July New Zealand stores will contain six million freight carcasses of all kinds of meat, and a very large quantity of this meat must remain -in the stores until the opening of next season, limiting the capacity of most, of the works. Already, when the season is not over, some works are embarrassed, aud at least ono has had to close down. It has been well enough understood that the Home authorities have not been so anxious to buy lamb as other kinds of meat, and if the space available is to be so severely limited as seems probable, there would seem to be a possibility that the Imperial Board of Trade may insist that the meat to bo taken into the stores shall be of the kinds for which they have most use.