THE MEAT EXPORT TRADE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3568, 2 September 1920, Page 6

THE MEAT EXPORT TRADE.

TOO MANY FREEZING WORKS. Mr. Charles Elga,r, chairman of the Ye'ilinton Meat * Export Company, yriting to the Wairarapa Age, says: ‘I. will make the matter quite clear 0 those interested in meat prcdue;ion. It is our business to sell to the ugliest bidder, whe.hor selling on the a,?ine:s’ account or on our own, and at any rate, am satisfied that this s the wish of the producer. As to he necessity of new" works, w.s have n New Zealand • to-day 25 frezing vorks in the North Island and 25 in lie South Island, and more building. These works, if working at their full opacity, could deal with the year’s ratput in under sixty days. This is :he complete answer as to whether new works are wanted, and is one of nany strong reasons why Armour and Co. should not be granted a slaughtering license. The cost of maintenance )f this multiplicity of works falls upon the producer. There is no- escaping it once the works arc built and are a agoing concern.' I do-uftot wish to dismiss the morality of the business methods of this fi.rm, or any other, but, as you coyecll y" state in your article. 1 see no reason why the freezing com)anies should not sell to them. I said in my address that “It is one thing to make use of a monopoly, and quite another to allow a monopoly fc make use of us,’ and I continue in the same belief. You say in your article: "The fact is that the freezing companies are hot being run for the special benefit Of the farmers. In the majority of eases they are operating in the interest of the wealthy eapi alists. ’ My observation on this statement is that, leaving out the English-owned companies thm diree orates of freezing companies consist of 25(j farmers and 17 ethers not directly connected in production from the land.’’