MR NELSON ON MR NATHAN'S SCHEME.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 30, 3 August 1895, Page 2

MR NELSON ON MR NATHAN'S SCHEME.

CPBB PRKBS ASSOCIATIONS. Napier August 1. There was a crowded meeting of sheep farmers today, lasting over four hours, to hear addresses on the meat j trade from Messrs D. J. Nathan and W. ( Nelson. After Mr Nathan had explained his scheme Mr Nelson replied at great length. He contended that the proposed scheme and guarantee was quite unnecessary. He opposed the opening of shops in the provinces, maintaining that Eastman's and Nelson and Son's thousand frozen meat shops and other two thouKand batchers who sold frozen meat were better vehicles for the distribution of meat. He denied that the low prices were due to want of storage accommodation, as in London alone four months' supply could be stored, and there were many stores in the provinces. He quoted detailed figures to show that meat was well distributed all over the provinces. He ridiculed the idea of a Smithfield ring, contending that if there were a combination strong enough to regulate the prices it would not be confined to the 4000 or 5000 tons of frozen mutton sold every month, while 20,000 tons of fresh meat were sold at high prices. The relative better price of New Zealand lamb was also quoted as negativing the idea of a ring. He thoroughly agreed with Mr Nathan that concentration and combination iv London were the sole solution of the present disorganised state of the market, but he stated that that had now been effected under the new co-operative distributing company just formed in London to deal with the whole oi! the consignments from Australasia. Mr Nathan, in answer, said that while Mr Nelson had condemned all his premises he was driven to the same conclusion.