THE MEAT TRADE

Southland Times, Issue 18824, 18 May 1920, Page 2

THE MEAT TRADE

SERIOUS OUTLOOK FOR PRODUCERS. Producers are now much concerned over the meat business, and the position is regarded along the West Coast as serious (says the Wanganui correspondent of the Wellington Post). In discussing the matter Mr Creswell, manager of the Wanganui Meat Freezing Company, expressed the opinion that a good deal of the present trouble could have been avoided had the fanners and those interested in the meat trade taken a united stand in the matter. This they did not do, as one section thought it would be preferable to have a. free market, while the other favoured the continuance of the commandeer for another year. The result was that the Imperial Government naturally adopted the course of least resistance, and decided to lift the commandeer next month. Mr Creswell considered there was still a ray of hope for the producer. A very important conference was to bo held in Wellington on May 27. of representatives of freezing companies, producers, and others interested in the meat trade. If this conference manages to arrive at an absolutely united decision, the Imperial Government may be induced to reconsider the position, and extend the control. In the event of failure, to arrive at an agreement, then the outlook for the producer will bo serious. It will be impossible for the Imperial Government to ship anything like the meat in the New Zealand stores before next season, and that will mean that the freezing companies would commence next season with the stores half full. One thing was absolutely certain, said Mr Creswell, and that was that it was going to cost three times the amount to market the meat as before the war. The consolidated charges were then 1 l-10d, and they were now 3 3-10 d. Coming to the position along the West Coast, Mr Creswell stated that although farmers were still holding a fair number of fat stock, the aggregate along the Coast was not so great as might be expected. Another factor in their favour was the exceptionally good season, which would enable them to hold their stock over the winter. Some farmers, of course, were at a disadvantage through having stocked up with stores ifcr the winter, and, in addition, having also to carry fats which they were unable to get into the works. In Canterbury the position was not so bad, as farmers there, to a large extent, have gone in for growing winter and spring feed. In Wanganui a number of farmers depended solely on grass with which to fatten.