THE MEAT TRADE OF THE FUTURE.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 17 January 1912, Page 2

THE MEAT TRADE OF THE FUTURE.

Recent figures are reassuring. Firstly they show that the companies are establishing more agencies in the provinces of Britain. Secondly it is evident that, despite the enormous shipments of last summer (arriving in the English summer) the demand kept pace with the supply. Prices were a shade lower because of the dry season which rushed a tremendous lot of home killed meat into the markets. Thirdly the operations of the much dreaded Trust have not reduced prices whatever else they may have done or not done. Moreover the buyers are proving too many for the Trust to have much chance of disorganising things. This is shown by the fact that prices are actually higher all round than they were twenty years ago. Now for the moment the moral is that in spite of the successful equality of supply and demand throughout the year it is necessary to secure the proper regulation of the exports in accordance with the seasons. Secondly, next season's prices seem assured by the fact that so much meat has been killed this season by reason of the drought. Thirdly, the operations of Sir W. Hall-Jones at Roubaik where he organised the best exhibit of frozen meat ever seen on the Continent, and at Vienna where he did so much to educate the meat conference of European consumers and growers, are moving in a profitable circle, which is approaching the.opening of continental markets to our meats Experts, however, declare that the rssult AYill be not the sale of our meats in the new markets, but the monopoly of the old ones. All this is very well set forth in the speech ol the chairman of the Meat and Produce Export Co. which is well

worth perusal. With such firm prospects for meat, and the unexpected good wool prices of December, agricultural prospects for 1912 are decidedly rosy.