A SERIOUS POSITION

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1917, Page 1

A SERIOUS POSITION

THE MEAT STOCKS

WELLIXGTON, May 28. The question of paying the produc r for the moat sent to the freezing woii fpr export is assuming a very serio.'.s aspect. The meat being purehas* 1 “on board” and paid for on shipmei. , while there were very few ships t < t which to load it, meant that the producers had to wait for their money <; arrange for advances from the companies or their bankers. There are -i sfere now nearly three’ million e. . - casses, and the probability is' that :'1 will be many months before the bn c of it will find accommodation on t > steamers. The Government, realjsi g the difficulty, has through the Minis, •_ of Finance practically ranjiements with the Imperial authoß - ies to provide money to make paymep T on account of meat to he shipped (a behalf of the Homo Government. It iy not quite clear whether these pa;-’-: ments will apply to all meat in • store or only to that required for Army purposes. However, as all meat pass's through Government hands it Ms lik’d / to apply generally. So far as this season's meat is concerned the relief afforded will he very great, particularly to those companies and financial institutions who have been exhibiting considerable anxiety about the heavy risks they were being asked to carry. Unfortunately this relief, which is) fully appreciated, does not help us in the matter of shipment hut rather causes tis to feel that it may adversely affect us, by creating the impression at Hoine that- as the meat is for the most part paid for there will not be the same urgency for shipment. This however, is not for shipment'. This, however, is not the case. By far the greatest.cause for apprehension is the probability that the stores will still be full when the new season opens. It is not a question of meeting trouble half-way. Preparation for the fat lamb trade must be made very soon, and fatteners are at their wit’s end to know what to do, and already gloomy prospects have caused a considerable drop in the value of' stock. It may he necessary for farmers to make provision for keeping the lambs on their farms, and in many cases this may be possible; hut' 'the lamb-fattening industry cannot he made to suit the exigencies of a moment.