THE MEAT CRISIS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3408, 12 February 1920, Page 2

THE MEAT CRISIS.

MARLI3()RO UGH SHE EPI-‘ARIME RH

IMEET. GO\'l*ll’.Nl\fllN’l.‘ URGED TO A(J'[‘ION. BLENHEIM, Feb. IU. A well-ut':ellded nleeting' of Marlborough sheep—fal'mers to—day was ad« dressed by Mr W. J. Polso-n, of Wanganui, On the frozen meat illdustry on lines of his addresses in the North Island. It was unanimously I'€SOIVOCI “That this I'epresell‘::ltive meeting of Marlborough producers urges on the Government the necessity of ‘taking steps to get the Inlperiul :ulthol'ities 1o p‘.:u:e our Inuit on the English m-12'-ket at the cheapest rate pos.<.ibl-ef, to t-nuble stores to be cl:-areal to xmzke mom for next :season’s production, and in order that this n1:-Ly be dcne impresses upon ‘the Governmenc the necessity of at once despatehing the proposed e.olnnliSsion to Ellghlnd.”

A resolution was carried expressing sincere regret at Mr Polson's decision not to form one of the commission, and efforts are ‘to be Inad3 to induce the Minister to reconsl‘Jer his decision. Mr POlsOll said he would like to See the attitude the Premier took up tO\\'ard.~; the Commission. If Mr Massey changed his viewS.Mr Pclson might reeon~ sider the matter.

‘ ‘NO STORAGE.’ '

STLA ME R S T H ALT CAN NO T

Dlt>‘CH;\RGlu‘.

3 With reference to the views aclvane: 0 ed bykthe deputation which waited on ‘'.he Prime ;\lini.<tev: yesterday regarding’ the meat }.>osilion, the following extract from the Bristol Times and Mirl'or, of December‘ 10th, throws some liglit on the position at Home.— . “In ‘the Coul‘S(! of :1 lollgTll_V I'epl_V in yeste‘rday’s Parlianlelltal'y debates. Mr MeCul-dy (1-’arlialllent:lry Secretary to the )i[iniStl‘y for Food) informed Mr W. 'l‘llorne; That at the present. time. at various ports, there are eight steamers in course of dise.hal'ge with storage provido<l for all their (Z’Ell‘gOCg of meat: that there are four steamers lsci-the«_l with cal'goes for which there. is not at present“ ‘any tstorage accomintodation; that there are seven other steamers not yet -bertlied. He agrees tlfiat the froz—on meat in store is approximately 100,000 tons, and the arrivals {luring December and J.anual'y will approximate 57,000 and 60,000 tons respectively. The total c.onsllnl})tioll of meat at the present time varies between 90,000 and 110,000 tons per mon, of which imported meat is not less than 30,000 tons per nlon‘tll. The quantity of meat in store in Australia ‘and New Zealand is expected to be about 120 tons on l)ecelllbel' 31st. The only imported meat purchased by the Government. says Mr McCur(ly, in reply to '3.no'ther question, at the present time is Australasian mu‘tt.on and lamb. ‘_The cost of this meat to the Ministry ; for Food is 10§.d per lb, and it. is sold at this price to the wholesaler. The meat. is out up and sold at varying prices, according to the different joints, but the laxrerasze price is a.ppl'oxinla.tely il/0-.‘_, per 1-b.”