The Hastings Standard Published Daily. WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1896. THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Hastings Standard, Issue 62, 8 July 1896, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 1896. THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

The cry for some sort of protection against the customs, vagaries and dishonest practices of the Smithfield butchers in dealing with the frozen meat from the colonies, has been heard time and again, and although several attempts have been made to secure this protection all efforts have so far proved abortive. In New Zealand, almost from the inception of the trade, schemes of one kind and another having for their ultimate object the bursting of the Smithfield rings have been propounded, but unfortunately all such schemes have lacked the essential feature of practicability. Last year a conference of those interested in the industry was held in "Wellington, when the gigantic but unworkable scheme of D. J. Nathan, Esq., together with others of a somewhat similar character, were considered. We have had no good results as yet, and it is doubtful

whether the Smithfield rings will ever succumb to the efforts of any single colony. Notwithstanding the repeated failures to cope with the peculiar practices of the London dealers, those engaged in the trade have not lost all hope of eventually succeeding in breaking tip the rings. The frozen meat trade has made wonderful progress in the sister colonies'of Victoria, New South AVales and Queensland, and these have as much interest in breaking through the musty customs of Smithfield as we have. The four colonies acting in concert would be able to accomplish that which any of the colonies taking isolated action would fail to attain. Combined action o» the part of all the colonies possessing an export trade in frozen meat may be calculated to make an impression on the vested interest of the Smithfield butchers, and it is this combination that is now proposed to be put into operation. According to the Sydney Morning Herald of the 27th ult., a proposal is on foot which has for its object the protection of the producers' interest in' England. The machinery for giving effect to the proposals are given in a dozen clauses as under : 1. To form a committee in London to be known as the committee for controlling Australasian refrigerated produce. 2. Such London committee to be composed of representatives of Australasian banks and financial institutions interested in pastoral pursuits, with power to add to their number, such firms or companies directly connected with the producing interests as may be considered necessary. No salesmen of refrigerated produce shall be connected with this committee. 3. Each bank, company, or firm taking part in the work of the committee shall appoint one representative to it, such representative to be a paid officer of the institution making the appointment. 4. A practical market inspector shall be appointed by the committee, who shall be possessed of sufficient experience to enable him to detect and report any unfair dealings in connection with the sale of produce. 5. Local committees of two representatives shall be appointed by the freezing companies in each colony joining the association for the purpose of dealing with matters affecting that colony, and these local committees shall form a central colonial committee in Sydney, to the secretary of which all communications shall be made. G. The London committee shall draw up a list of recognised salesmen, and no meat or other refrigerated produce be entrusted for disposal to salesmen other than those named in such list. Salesmen so appointed to bind themselves not to import on their own account, directly or indirectly. 7. No remuneration shall be received by any member of any committee, the general prosperity of the interests, represented being sufficient inducement. 8. The association shall select in A ustralasia a special representative to proceed to London, who shall sit with the London committee and have a voice in their deliberations, but who shall be appointed, paid, and controlled by the association. 9. Each member of the association shall contribute towards its expenses a minimum subscription of £IOO per annum, and be liable for all further expenditure in carrying out its objects in proportion to the amount of its output during the previous year. But the total annual expenditure of the association shall not exceed £SOOO without the unanimous consent of all the members. 10. The subscriptions for each year in excess of the first contributions of £IOO per member shall be levied by the central colonial committee who shall estimate the amount required, and levy accordingly upon the previous year's output, 11. Each member of the association shall have a vote in respect of his contribution of £IOO, and every further contribution of £IOO levied upon a member shall entitle him to an additional vote. 12. The agreement to last three years. The scheme at first glance appears comprehensive enough to be effective, but its practicability or otherwise must be left to the experts to determine. New Zealand producers are to be invited to consider the scheme and join tfee proposed Association, and we hope to see some real good results from this first effort at combined attack on the Smithfield butchers.