WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON NEWS

MEAT CONTROL BOA.RU.

(Special to “Guardian”.)

WELLINGTON, .July 27. This Coaiil. the first of the series established by Parliament, eame in for n great deal of consideration lasi week at a meeting of the Wellington branch of the Kcononiio Society, when .Mr .Mi II ward, the Managing Director of the (.ear Meat Coy., hail sometiling to say of a complementary nature. I Sis views and opinions on the meat trade are entitled to tiie utmost respect, for his is a master of his subject. and the (fear Coy. with it's wonderful organisation and great financial strength stands to his credit. Mr M illward .-dated that the Mea t Control Hoard had done re tv good work and had been admirably conducted, and no one will be prepared to dispute tins so tar n- Hie functions of the Hoard have been ot a simple organising ebarncler. blit its testing time has still to come. ID’ pointed out that; the time bad arrived for mi important forward step to be taken. for owing to the high prices that have been recently ruling for wool, and mutton and lamb have induced other

count ties to give increased attention to sheep farming. In Algeria, .Morocco. Tunis and Tripoli, along the Mediterranean littoral sheep farming is being developed, and already fair clips o( wool are coming from there. Alter the

war ended the [■’rencti. Government induced an Australian squatter named Wilson to visit Algiers and report on the suitability of the country for sheep farming. He was so pleased with the prospects that lie removed practically the whole of his Australian thicks to Algiers and has made bis home there. Mr Millward suggests that the time lias arrived for the Meat Hoard to undertake world conditions. All organised industries have their statistical and economic departments and such are required in the meat industry, lor, as he observed ‘‘meat being a perishable pinduet is very sensitive to market changes, and in abnormal conditions the price goes too high, or on the contrary, too low. A correct outlook as to stocks tit all points—actual or perspective—would help to remedy such unsatisfactory happenings. Risk and uncertainty through lack of knowledge of conditions create diflicttllies which lean* the field open to speculators.” Mattcis that would come under review ot the Statistical Department are: (1) Seasonal Variations. In hot weather meat suffers bv being displaced by fish. Iruit, and lighter foods. (2) ltelative interchangeability of dilferent meats. It has been found that cheaper Argentine chilled beef draws customers away from best mutton and lamb. (3) T lie consumption per bead ot meat in Great Brtiain and the Dominions. (I) Continental trade, (5) Change of fashion in taste. Young stock is probably coming into vogue with the wealthier (lasses, and ill order to supply this it niav lie necessary to supplement our natural pastures with concentrated loud*, (fi) Sales of lambs by large stores where no cut ting beyond quartering and no trimming is involved. 0) Etfect of payment of doles on all meat consumption. (81 Kite' t ot more expensive shops and Hygienic requirements on their retail price.

CHANGES IX FUTURE. Mr M illward was careful to point out that indications are working towards changes in the future. Great Britain is our only consistent market. “'ln view of the large number of unemploy-

ed (observed Mr Midword) and the likelihood of further accretions thereto through the prospective troubles in mining, woollen and other industries, the very unsatisfactory condition of the trade balance which at the moment is probably absolutely adverse, utter allowing for invisible exports, services, etc., it would seem that her purchasing power is being reduced and she cannot be expected to pay the high prices that she has recently I ecu giving for Iter food and other imports. It i- a question of importance as to bow long site can continue to absorb increasing meat supplies. Here is where a highly -killed economist would he able lo assist.” Professor Murliy. of Victoria College, who gave the main lecture on the subject. expressed the view Doit “Probabilities are in the direction of a fall in prices for the next few years and there is need for caution. Producers who look lo the hoards lo help them artificially to sustain prices and land values through monopoly plunder of their overseas i ustomers will get a serious disappointment.” The tact is the war has impoverished the people of Great Britain and declining trade has made I lie po.-it ion worse, consequently producers most look tor a lower range ul prices for all products.

POLITICAL [XTERVEXT It LX. j Professor Murphy thinks 1 1 1 aL t in? danger of polil ical intervention lias boon eliminated I riini tile lionrds si 1u i■ the systoms mo to he operated bv committees of I.nsint-ss moil notmilly interestc lin tlit- industry, elected by interested parties, and outnuinl.ering tlio. (lovoriimoiit iicminoss. It is proper j that tlio Stalo, which confers tlio act-! ual pmvors should have roprosontat ion so tlial those powers are larriod out according to the intent of their grant.” It seems to many Hint it is too early to pruiHiunee judgment on the politioni aspect of the matter for polities are tin unknown tpiality.