FROZEN MEAT.

Taihape Daily Times, 8 January 1919, Page 7

FROZEN MEAT.

FITTUEE DEVELOPMENTS

Speaking- to >a repcsciitatiye of the "Press" on Friday, the manager of one of the largest refrigerating companies in Christohurch said that he was of opinion that it would have been very much, safer and generally more advantageous to all concerned if the Imperial Government continued its commandeer of the Dominion's meat until the end of next season at the least. A large section of the farmers and producers of the Dominion had already expressed their opinion that it would have been advisable to extend meat contract with the Im-

perial Government to the same period as the wool contract, which will include the 1919-1920 clip, and in this he was entirely with them. At the present time, he said, the cool stores of New Zealand were" full of meat, which all belonged to the Imperial Government, and, judging by the outlook for shipping, it appeared that the position in a nutshell was that a year's supply of ships would have to endeavour to take away a two years' production of meat. With the world's markets in the upset condition they were, an extremely complicated and most hopeless condition, commercially speaking, would arise if' the market was now declared free and open, and it would be exceedingly difficult for private operators to do business"at all on anything like a sound basis—any business done would be of an almost purely speculative nature.. If, bowever, the Imperial Government continued to buy all the Dominion's meat till the end of the 1920 season, that is to say, until June or July, 1920, there would be o much better chance of markets regaining normality, and then business could be done upon a reasonably certain basis, 'which would obviously be very much more satisfactory both for the producers and the business men. He was aware of the 1 fact that there was an agitation amongst a certain section of farmers, more particularly in the North Island, for a free market, but be would not like to see it yet, as the position of private owners of meat waiting ship- - ment would not be a very happy one.