EXPORTED MEAT MARKETING.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 14 September 1916, Page 4

EXPORTED MEAT MARKETING.

AN EXPERT’S , STATEMENT. Reference was made to the operations of the American Meat Trust by Mr W. J. Poulspn, a director of the Otaihape Farmers’ Meat and Produce Company, Ltd,, at the annual meeting of shareholders yesterday. ' He ' stated that he hoped that those farmers who had sheep frozen on their own account would nominate some British firm' to distribute the meat at Home. The mutton and beef 'the did not’require was released from Wfore and handed' ovCf to 'agents. - ' ? Some of these people were interested in the Meat Trust, which had got control' of a large number—of. retail shops. In. some of the largest cities thousands of the smaller butchers w'cfe closing down, because they were unable to get supplies. If local farmers wore cartful to nominate a British company, the meat would be released to British merchants at the other end. After the war they would find if they supported the British concerns they would be reducing the danger now looming ahead. Continuing, Mr Ponlson said he was very keen on the Bristol and Dominions Producers’ Association, which was being run on proper lines, and which, was endeavouring to distribute the meat to the small butchers from the centre nearest to that to which the meat was shipped. A large number of small butchers were being kept alive by the efforts of the Association. By nominating this firm farmers would not be losing anything but would get the same prices. The Imperial Government had a department running and regulating the meat business, but they had got themselves into a hopeless mess, amd did not know how things stood. Instead of making a profit the Department would probably disclose a severe loss. Neither the farmer nor the Government were getting the profit; some middleman got that. Instead of . getting the highestpr ice in Britain, New Zealand meat was getting the lowest simply because of the method of releasing our meat from store at inopportune times. If Mr Massey would see to the more satisfactory releasing of the meat much better results would ensue. In times of peace New Zealand lamb had been sold for lid per lb more than Argentine lamb, but the positions were reversed now. The Australian Government had arranged for better prices than New Zealand was getting, and the Australians were on a better wicket, although the meat was not so good. If the difference in. price was going into the Government's pockets, farmers would be too patriotic to object, but unfortunately it wasquite evident that some middlemen were getting the profit, and this should be stopped.