MEAT FREEZERS

Shannon News, 17 August 1926, Page 4

MEAT FREEZERS

AMALGAMATION PROPOSALS, THE INDUSTRY HIT HARD. Negotiations are in progress on a proposal to amalgamate a number of tlie meat freezing companies in the dolninion, Canterbury interests being affected in the scheme. “The idea is no new one,” said a man in the industry to a ‘Sun’ representative. “It has been brought forward before, considerably discussed, and then dropped for the time being. The had conditions facing the industry at present are the cause of its revival.” - This man pointed out that in the past six or •: ight weeks in London, ‘amb has dropped value by from ss. to 6s a carcass, the consumption in England a head having never been worse since ...j was associated with the business. Lamb (::6lb grade) is’ selling at sd to Bid a lb, whereas it lecently was 9i(d per lb. Producers had been fortunate in getting good prices, and now the companies were suffering big losses. In Australia lamb now was being purchesed at 7d c.i.f., which was equal to about 6d over all. Such abnormally low prices t were based on selling conditions at present In London. The outlook taken on these values was bad for New Zealand. The strike in England, which was causing a widening spread of unemployment, : was the cause of the big drop in consumption. People in NeAV’ Zealand liardiy realised the extent to which the trade was being affected by industrial conditions in England. As an example of what was happening, his company had approached six manufacturing firms in England fair a supply of meat tins,, and none was prepared to commence delivery until six weeks after the strike was settled, because they were not in a condition to manufacture. "Although the manner in which the season is opening ifi Australia is very bad,” he added, “a good deal of water may flow under -the bridge before the New Zealand season commences. Two or three weeks may see a change; but, whatever happens the fact is very certain that any recovery must be a slow process.”