SHIPMENT OF MEAT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 132, 28 February 1920, Page 10

SHIPMENT OF MEAT

AMERICAN MARKET SUGGESTED

EXPORTERS PREFER USUAL

CHANNELS

The shipment of New Zealand meat to the United States lias been 'iuggostcd as a method of relieving the glut that exists in the stores both in New Zealand ■ and in Great Britain. The Prime Minister speaking at Wanganui, 13 reported to have dissented and to have expressed the view that "every pound of meat sent to America would be so much more ammunition for the.. Meat Trust to fight the colonial producers in-England with. It has been further stated that the freezing companies were advised to fillip meat by' the steamer Northumberland to NewYork or Boston, "the space for various f'-cczin." companies havin.e been allotted 'by Hie* New Zealand Shipping Commitee." .... ~ A reporter who made inquiries on the subject in Wellington yesterday gathered that the steamer mentioned migat lie able to take a certa'n quantity of meat consigned (0 the American market. But men who are interested in the export trade are not disposed to regnrd the shipment of meat to the United States ns a remedy for the difficulties that have arisen. Tlie first point to be considered is that the British Government has bought the exportable surplus of New Zealand meat until the date of the termination of the present contracts, at the end of July next. The diversion of some of the meat might lie arranged, but there would be difficulties to bs overcome. The second point is that the Americans, as far as can be gathered, are not in a position to send refrigerated fillips to l'ft the meat. That being so, the carriage of any meat sent to America would have to be undertaken by ships at rfresent engaged in the New Zealand trade, so that shipments to Britain would be proportionately decreased. There might lie a saving in respect of shorter voyages and quicker discharge, but the difference would not have very much effect on stocks of New: Zealand meat. "I don't think we are going to improve our position by diverting the trade from its regular channels," said one meat exporter yesterday. "Britain is. likely to remain the market for our meat for many years to come. The British neople are able to consume all New" Zealand's meat if the conditions are normal t/ The remedy for present difficulties is tho resumption of normal conditions, and I am glad to see that the High Commissioner has taken nn the demand that the retail price of New Zealand meat in the United Kingdom should be reduced in order to stimulate consumption. If tho British consumers are offered our meat at, say, Gd. per pound, the heavy stocks that are causing such anxiety will soon disappear. Then, with storage space available in the United Kingdom, wo shall be able to face the new season. "People are. ant to exaggerate the seriousness of .the position when they are told that so many millions of carcasses of meat have accumulated in tho stores. 'Let us • suppose; that there are 5,000,000 carcasses in British cold stores and afloat. That represents merely about seven pounds of meat per head of the population of the United Kingdom. It is not -more' than a month's supply at anything like a normal rato of consumption. These figures are not exact, but they illustrato my point. The quantity of meat in' store is not excessive, provided that wo can get it placed within the reach of the consuming public. of tho United Kingdom. That is the whole point, and I think that the diversion of' meat from the ordinary trade channels should not bn undertaken if it can possibly be avoided." >

A WANGANUI DISCUSSION, r By : Telegraph—Press Association Wanganui, February 27. During a public discussion regarding the meat glut, Mr. W. J. Poison suggested that a probable market might be found 'in the United States for, New-Zealand surplus meat. The Prime Minister dissented, expressing the view that every pound of meat sent to America would be so much more ammunition for the Trust to fight tho colonial producers in England ■with. It now transpires that the freezing companies of the Dominion had been advised to ship meat, principally lamb, by the Northumberland to New York or

Boston, the space for various freezing companies having been allotted by tho Sew Zealand Shipping Committee.l

ARMAGH TO LOAD FOR NEW YORK . By Telegraph—Press Association Gisborne, February 27._ ' Tho steamer Armagh is duo_ at Gisborne on Tuesday next from Brisbane to load 35,000 carcasses of lamb for New York. Tho cargo will be Imperial Government commandeered lamb, which hna evidently ten disposed of to America. COMMUNICATION FROM LONDON THE POSITION EXPLAINED.

'By Telegraph—Press Association Auckland, February 27. Penlying to representatives from the Prinie' Minister, the Secretary of State for the Colonies cables to the effect that the increasing congestions' in the ports and cold stores of the United Kingdom is caused bv unavoidable delays in the return of requisitioned ships to their owners in the early months-of 1919 and by labour trouble'.' From now on until the summer sunplies of Home-grown ir.cat will be much less important and the consumption of mutton and lamb will increase. Arrangements have been made for larger quantities of Australian and New Zealand mutton and lamb to be nlaced on the market. A largo sale of New Zealand lamb has been made to America, und endeavours are being mado to develop Ibis market. Tho possibilities of mnking sales on the Continent have not been overlooked, but Continental nations prefer beef to mutton or lamb. The matter of tho importation 'f meat into France is being t.-kep up with Mie French Government. He hoped the Government would issue a categorical denial to the statement that preference "has been <diown to shipments of supplies from South America. During the year endeavours rave been made to charter American and Ttnlian insulated steamers for the New Zealand trade without' success His Maie=tv'° Government recently found it advisable to Tenow contracts iii force ouring the war for th* purchase of the exportable snrpfus of Patagoman mutton and lamb in resnect of the present killing season, which ends.m Anvil. Wh the amount involved being about ojfflM tons. This purchase was made with the object of protecting, as far as possible, Hie supplies of Australian and New Zealand mutton under control of the Imperial Government from competition by freshly-killed m«at exported from forei"i'i source's. The steamers emnloved in conveying this meat are of limited capacity ' and not suitable for diversion to New" Zealand. The Imperial Government is most anxious to avoid expenditure for storage in New Zealand, a-id it is to it* interests, as much as to those of New Zealand, to put an end to tho present congestion.