FOOD PRICES.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1925, Page 2

FOOD PRICES.

[Reuters Telegrams.] X.Z. ORGANISATION. LONDON, January S. In his evidence before the Royal Commission on food prices, Air For-s, syth, in emphasising the value of their organisation to the New Zealand producers, instanced the substantial reduction secured in the marine insurance rates and the reufiction of New Zealand meat freights below the Australian freights. He suggested that the latter were chiefly due to New Zealand spreading its shipments evenly over the whoe yearly period, instead of haviin' seasonal gluts, scarcity. Questioned by Commissioner Collet - , Mr Forsyth did not agree that the present peak prices for 'New Zealand lamb and mutton were due to the operations of the Producers Board. He v ( attributed the increase to the fact that large mimbersi ,"f 'people who formerly were prejudiced against imported meat were forced to eat it during the war, and had come to appreciate the quality of it. This, combined with a world meat shortage, and consequent high prices, was responsible for the ncreased price fo New Zealand meat in comparison with the homegrown article. > Sir F. (••Hides, referring to the exchange problem, significantly suggested that it would disappear with a return of gold standard. TILTS AT AUSTRALIA. } LON DO-'. January 8. At. the Food Commission, Air Hassail (Australian representative) chose to give the bulk of his evidence in camera. \\ lien publicly detailing the genesis of the Australian Aleut Council, bo emphasised Australia’s loss on her meat exports through her wartime hulk sale to the British Government, which was to Australia's disadvantage compared with the Argentine. Commissioner ('oiler: “Without the British Government, Australia could not have shipped a single carcase during the war.” MV 11 assan : That is admitted. Commissioner (Villen: “A our refer- s—once to the post-war loss of Australia’s export trade ciimioeiion simply means that you had to return to the conditions uf [re ■ competition.” Air Hassail: Australia had to re-or-ganise the export trade she lmd lost du mg the war. Commissioner ('oiler: It. is not a very serious grievance, surely!■'” 1 a ter Commissioner (oiler said: You want Britain to take more frozen meat, which Britain docs not want—and never wants in ion large quantities- hut you refuse to send mure mutton and iamb, wlii h Britain wants because it pays better to grow for high wool prices than for mutton. • Ci )MMISSION ADJOURNS. LONDON. January 8. The Royal Food Commission has adjourned till January 1 Ith.. after hearing evidence relating to the conditions of the Argentine meat trade. One witness ex] ressed the opinion that excess profits occurred between Smithfield and the retail shops. II" recommended the stamping of each quarter with a view to 1 revealing unscrupulous dealers from selling Argentine meat as Australian, and vice versa.