AN AMERICAN MARKET FOR MEAT.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1920, Page 1

AN AMERICAN MARKET FOR MEAT.

(Christchurch “ Sun.”)

If the outlook for the meat producer were not serious, he would probably appreciate the humour of the situation which Mr Massey finds himself in to-day in connection with t-We sale of meat to America; Prior to the election, When Mr Massey; wanted the farmers’ votes, it suited him to pose as the protector of the producer against the alleged American Meat Trust. The farmer in five cases out of six being a credulous person, swallowed “ bait, hook and sinker” the allegations the Goverment circulated about thp big American meat distributing firms, and probably thanked his lucky stars that lie had such a 'great statesman as Mr Massey anS the little veterinary surgeon who runs the Agricultural Department to prevent him being eaten alive by the “Trust.” To-day with tile commandeer about to expire, and a glut of meat both in London and New Zealand; the Dominion is eagerly turning to the Americans, and unless they can absorb a large proportion of our surplus, it is difficult to see where it will find a market at all. Mr ■Massey, who no longer sees any objection to our meat going to America, trie6 to save his face by saying that he will •not allow the Americans to own freezing works in New Zealand. So far the Americans liiavc made no attempt to do so. They have contented themselves with operating as buyers in competition with others in the trade, and the only effect of their presence here has been to ensure the farmer a l/etter price for liis stock. But after a careful study of the question, the “ Sun ’’ has come to the conclusion that Air Massey’s and Dr Peakes’ objections to American-owned meat works in New Zealand are just as short-sighted, stupid and futile as were their objections to the, Americans coming into the market as buyers and exporters.

With- one or two exceptions, New Zealand freezing works are very inefficiently managed as compared wit;, American packing houseSj which by their methods would and do make fortunes out of byproducts'that are wasted in New Zealand. The result is that the farmers are not-.paid nearly as-much for tlteir stock as they ought to be paid, and ns they would be if American methods were adopted. Yet, if the farmer had sufficient horse sense to investigate the question for himself, he would find tkfit he is being made the cat’s-paw of people, who, for business reasons, fear the competition of men who are more capable and efficient than themselves. Accordingly they have worked on the farmers’ fears by telling them the yarn that if the Americans establish themselves in No-” Zealand they will combine to force down the price of meat on the hoof. The fact that they have never tried ts do so in America, that to-day the American farmer is getting the highest prices for stock ever known in the history of the pastoral industry, and that the leading American packing houses wfork on a margin that would put some of the New Zealand freezing companies almost into liquidation goes for nothing. „ The farmers have hitherto been content to believe what the Government and its veterinary advisers have fold them, when instead of slanyning tliie i door in the face of the Americans they had everything to gain by opening it | and saying, “ Come right in.” Now I that shipments of meat are about to be made on an extensive scale to America, and that a new and most valuable market is about to be opened at a time when it is vital to tliie producer to find one, perhaps wiser and more rational counsels will prevail, and the foolish fears the farmers have entertained regarding American operators will be finally laid aside. Seeing how they have been misled by men who ought to have known better, it would not be out of place if the Producers’ Conference passed a vote of want of confidence in the Agricultural department, and recommended some drastic changes. When one considers what an enormous sum the country spends annually on the Agricultural Department, it seems rather unfortunate that its activities should have the effect of penalising the farmer and discouraging industry.'