THE MEAT TRADE.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1045, 12 November 1903, Page 3

THE MEAT TRADE.

ARGENTINE OUR GREATEST RIVAL.

ESTABLISHMENT OF RETAIL SHOPS NOT DESIRABLE.

By Telegraph—Press 'Association— Wellington, last night, In the House this afternoon Mr T. Mackenzie, Chairman of tho Extension of Commerce Committee, brought up a lengthy roport of tho Committee on the position of the meat trade of the colony, both hero and abroad. Summarising tho position, the Committee find that tho quality of frozen moat exported from New Zealand is not oxcolled by that exported from any other country ; that tho quantity is annually increasing, but that tho Argentine is producing an article which in quality and quantity is challenging our promier position ; that tho New Zealand moat trade iB in a healthy condition ; that our products are widely distributed ; that tho Now Zealand grower is at present receiving satisfactory returns for meat, tho prices for 1902-3 being the highest on record ; that Now Zealand has for a time at least reached her limit of output; that it is of the first importance that she should devote horsolf to maintaining and improving her quality; that New Zealand can easily place her whole present output at reasonable rates; that as New Zealand and Argentine alike are doing well, the time does not appear opportune, nor does it appear to bo necessary, to venture on a schome of trado rivalry with a country whoso moat satisfies many of our customers, and which in case of sovero competition can afford to sell to a profit at much lower rates than can be done by us. In tho opinion of the Committee the inevitable effect of tho establishment of shops

in the Unitod Kingdom would bo a severe competition with Argentine and a certain fall in values ; that insurance rates should be reduced and the methods of assessment be reformed. After carefully considering tho question in all its bearings, the Committee eannot recommend proposals whioh might seriously interfere with trado methods, methods that have demanded and received years of careful thought to ovolvo and render suitable for tho working of the trade, a system which, with all its shortcomings and mistakes, has resulted in fairly satisfactory prices being now returned to sheep-growers of the colony. Tho report was ordered to lie on the table of the House.