FROZEN MEAT QUESTION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 98, 20 January 1920, Page 2

FROZEN MEAT QUESTION

4 THE POSITION AT HOME PRODUCE IN OVER SUPPLY (From Our Special Correspondents.) Palmerston North, January 19.

A circular letter issued to their agents in New Zealand by .Messrs. Gilbert Anderson nndjffio., .tho well-known London coloiiinl agents, at the end of November, has the.following interesting remarks on tho present condition of the frozen meat trade on th&Home markets, and also as trf_ i>rospects!jn the immqdinte future:— "It is now over twelve months since the great war came to an end, and, whilst we do ; not identify ourselves with tho great number of- people who'appear to consider tho signing of the armistice should Imvo- meant (ho imniediato return to pre-war conditions, wo cannot help thinking that the period of-recon-struction is being unduly' prolonged. After twelve-months it is not at all-en-couraging to business to find so of it wholly or partially controlled, with a consequent tendency to drift-towards muddle, and,'what is'more, waste. The congestion and lack of storage 6paco for ft-ozen meat is now transferred from New Zealand to the United Kingdom, and n great deal of prominence is given; by the Press to tho position created at/this end. A ijoort many of these statements only contain a modicum' of truth, and most of them only 'cause confusion in tho minds of the public, and lend to irritation. For some timo past responsible -pcoplo have been preaching the gospel of a world shortage in meat and other essentials, which it is hard tc reconcile with facts. Undoubtedly a mis-' tako was 'made'when tho price' of moat was recently advanced by tho Minister of Food,, and it was very.'soon made quito clear that the high prices ruling .for both imported and home-killed meat was having tho effect of reducing the llemand materially of that part of the community .which .may bo described as. those who 'won't' pay the price ami thosewho /can't.' The immediate effect of this'was that imported mutton and .lamb on the 10th instant was reduced by 21(1.-per lb'.'to the ivholosalers," and -.by 2d. per lb. to tho retailers. At'the samo time, the .Minister - of,".l''ood considered it desirable"'to'state that, tho' week's ration as. laid down was the minimum' and not tho maximum. Meantime, if is becoming a daily occurrence for tho surplus.at.Smithncld", both homekilled and imported, not to bo'cleared!' Another noticeable fact is thai the butcher is now able to select tho class and weights best suitable for his trade, and it can; quite easily'bo understood that this does .ixoi provide tor inuch heavy mutton and old ewes, and yet class iiiu'st sooner or later bo sold or condemned, which' latter would he criminal when it is simply a matter of price. To add to the difficulties, an order recently issued made it compulsory for tho retail butcher fo exhibit a notice, or label all imported meat that .it, was «uch. In consequence of 'the ■heavy pressure brought to bear, Jho carrying out of this order is -deferral until December' 1. By that time w'u are o, opinion that it will be revoked. Can it, 'therefore, ho wondered at .that the di niand for dc-control is becoming more persistent than ever? Undoubtedly tho crux of the whole business is the' Gov•ernment's position with tho British farmer. \lf control is abolished," means will have to be found to compensate the farmer here, and it is a problem that the Treasury will have to face. In a'liy case, it would appear that the consumer pays,, but undoubtedly an attempt will have to be made to induce people to buy more, meat, add so reduce the stocks that arc now accumulating all too fast, to tho'conl sternation of the Ministry, A great deal is heard of a Continental demand, and whilst this is a factor that will have to bo dealt with, in the abstnee of increased and improved facilitiesfor handling, that time'is not yet, and it is no; to Middle Europe thai, the Ministry can look for relief. The remedy lies a. ,Nome,. and bearing ■ in mind t.liq fact, that a large quantity of.meat still awaiting'.shipment in the. Dominion will arrive in the United Kingdom more or less off colour through excessively long storage, we, are pressing for immediate action to facilitate greater consumption by the removal of all restrictions that are. hampering expeditious- disposal of stocks. Moantime, tlv.i immediate posi- ■ tioii is serious, and does not. augur well for tho future, especially the period im- . mediately, following tho termination of 'the Imperial Government contract."