N.Z. MUTTON IN AMERICA.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3467, 22 April 1920, Page 2

N.Z. MUTTON IN AMERICA.

OVERPLUS REACHES NEW’ YORK.

ALL'EGED PROFI’I‘EERING_ VANCOUVER, March 31

§\'.tll'l)l‘ise has been expressed in Western Canada at the disproportion. at.ely_ high price demanded by the re. tailei-s in the Dominion for New Zea. land meat. which is frequently unloaded from the Niagara and Makura, the two large stzeaniers that ply be. tween Auckland alld Vancouver. While the mutton advanced sex». eral cents recently on the local markets of British Columbia during the latter part. of March, reports came to hand from New York that the British Government was offering mutton on the American market for 12?; cents. per pound wlrcilesale, against the prevailing price. in that market. of 24 cents. Cable orders for lamb were »being‘ accepted at 162: cents per pound wholesale, against the prevailing price of 30 «cents. '

It was explained that this was made possible by the fact that the 81-itis'h Government had o_\:po1-ienced a‘ glut in Inutton ’r'l-om New Zealand, and much of this meat had fo be diverted to the -\lllerica.n nqurket.

Within 1:119 space of two ‘Or three days 250,000 to 300,000 carcases of New Zealand lamb were sold to American buyers, anti some cargoes of mutton previously sold, were on their way to New York from the Thames. Some of the sllipmen‘rs for New York were not being put ashore in Jilngland, but welze being‘ tn-allsferl-ed from New Zealand boats fo .\lnel‘iCml ft-eiglxtem while stallding in the '.[‘h:'lmes. _

As most of the meat was reported to be in prime condition the cables were kept busy between .:\nlel-ica and London in an endeavour to secure further shipments. A(:C‘ol'dillg to information reaching Vzmcouver, it was estimated by the London Port authorities in Great Britain that four months’ supply of mutton was aboard the boats: in the harbours. and more was on its way from New Zealand. The new rettail price of mutton in Great Britain is 9d.

It was urged in Vancouver that further surplus shipments of New Zea~ land meat might with adv-antagne be routed to Canada, where a ready liiar—ket always awaits the meat products from “down under.t” The consumers .in Canada have frequently protested against, the excesssive prices demanded by retailers for New Zealand meat, considering the favourable circumstances under which the importers receive the meat. It has been contended by the purchasers that some extraordinary profiteering is being practised in British Columbia, as the New Zealand mutton reaches as high a price as 45 cents a pound, and when the Makura was held up'by a strike a few months ago, a well-known Canadian meat king rushed to Vancouver saying that he

was determined to arrange matters so that: the New Zealand meat might. be unloaded fl~‘om the Makura. “Otherwise.” he ludicrously exclaimed. “the C:lnadiall peogsle will not. get" cheap mutton.’ ’

This joke raised a Hmndrous guffaw all over the Dominion‘, as the price of New Zealand mutton is doubled from the time it is unloaded at the wharf until it reaches the consunier within. :1 mile away.

Now that a cooperative society has ‘been inaugurated in Vancouver, with branches springing up all over "Western Canada, it is expected efforts will shortly be made to obtain some of this New Zealand mutton direct from Auckland for sale by the medium of the “co-ops,‘-’ where the consuming public will be guaranteed a. ‘price for meat cousixlerably lower than the present outrageously high figure demanded by profiteering manipulators in Canarla. It is admitted that VanCouver wholesa.lers are paying 20 cents pel'.polm(l wholesale to a Vancouver mutton‘ importing house for the mutton ex the Niagara. It is pointed'out that mutton is landed in New York 35 per cent. cheaper than the same class of mutton can be bought directly to Vancouver from New Zealand for. If some enterprising New Zealand meat product firm could interpose and place New Zealand mea.t on the Canadian market cheaper. that firm will have plenty oft scope for orders.