THE MEAT REQUISITION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2087, 7 February 1920, Page 2

THE MEAT REQUISITION.

On-JJ.NI Jnmmrv there was in -story in Ihr Dominion British Government mrnt io (he equivalent of ii,U55,000 sixty-pound carcases. By iJmt date, too. tin- British Government had paid out to -those concerned iii New Zealand ne.’irly €42,000,<>()0, not including the enormous amount it. has paid to freezing companies liy way of storage a! the rate of, 3-32nds of one penny per pound per month. The requisition operated from 3rd Mareh, 11)10; it terminates on 30th dune. 11)20. The pro-' dimers, or freezing companies, were relieved of all anxiety as to shipping freights and all insurance of the meat after lining four months in store. A schedule of prices, was agreed upon —considered good prices at the time—and subsequently revised in the direction of an increase.. Skins, hides, fat, and other products of (he animals slaughtered for this meat enhanced in price, hut with them the British Government had uA concern. On 301 h dune next all this will come to an end. It cannot he said that producers of late have been fully satisiied with (he position; hut now they are soon to have mailers in their own hands, excepting that all meat purchased by the British Government .-ball have preference of shipntenl over meat killed subsequently to <»oth dune next. • Here is the dilTmully: Inasmuch as the 1021 slaughtering season begins in November next; what quantity of British Government meat will then he in -tore with preference of shipment over “free* meat? Assuming, with the Prime Minister, that there will he hut two million carcases in store by then, another question arises: W’hut will the market for free meat he like with 2,000,000 carcases of Government meat to draw upon in New Zealand.' Glider (he .Requisition Sidieme (he producer knew pretty well what his slock was likely to realise, and his hankers nlso knew what'was the value of the produce upon which to make advance., meal on the hoof as well as in (lie carcase. Risks of deterioration, lire, shipwreck, enemy action, were the- aftair of the British Government. And. now, what of the fn(are, with present disquieting reports of out-bulging stores and ships delayed in dock’s serving as men* (loafing insulated chambers? Producers may well he anxious as lo the market of 1.U21 ; hut limy may require reminding that it (is not impossible that alarmist statements origin-all* with interested parties, in order (hat such nmy ho aide to manipulate the market when the eonminiujeer and all other control ends. Tills is an aspect, of the ease that the bona fide producer of New Zealand must keep in view when (hmsideriiig (he disposal of his meat in the 1020-UI2I season. —Post,.