THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 44, 22 October 1913, Page 6

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

MEAT PACKERS' UNIQUE DINNER

VIEW OF THE MEAT TRUST

[Per Press Association.] Auckland, October 22. Mr Pearse, who represented the meat freezing companies in New Zealand and Australia at the Refrigeration Congress in Chicago, was a passenger by the Marama from Vancouver. He states that over £50,000 was spent in entertaining the delegates. Two of the banquets were unique. At the Meat-packers' annual dinner, the 600 guests were all in scarlet hunting coats, while a man on horseback and a pack of hounds patrolled the room between the tables for a time. Questioned regarding the Meat Trust, Mr Pearse said the rivalry tween the competing interests made combined action impossible. The prices paid for cattle were so high that they must be losing five to seven dollars on each beast. Mr Pearse is of opinion that the Panama Canal at first will do more harm than good so far as our interests are concerned. It would bring the Aregntine and ITraguayan meat and butter in quick time to the Pacific ports, where, so far, Australia had a monopoly. A large trade was bound to develop a much quicker service, and large refrigerated tonnage was urgently needed by Australia and New Zealand for the Pacific coast.