THE MEAT TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 284, 23 April 1913, Page 8

THE MEAT TRADE.

THE BRISTOL SCHEME. A REFUTATION. IBy Telegraph—Press Association. Pahiatua, Last Night. | There was no appearance of Mr. W. 1 I G. Foster, chairman of the Associated I Meat Companies of the North Island, |at Palliatua to-day, whe.n Mr. W. D. Lysnar, who was addressing a representative meeting of local farmers challenged Mr. Foster to substantiate his statement regarding the cold storage capacity at Bristol and certain data which Mr. Foster had published in the last annual report of his Association, Mr. Lysnar, who completely refuted Mr. Foster's allegations, said that Mr. Foster had been wrongly advised as to his data. The speaker quoted from ihe re- ; port of Mr. Foster's speech in Masterton I in April, 1911, when Mr. Foster aeknowI ledged that the facilities at the dock at' j London were and said that his AsI sociation was about to appoint a representative who would assist the producers' association, which has not since been done, while Mr. Lysnar argued that the bulk of the companies' results showed that Mr. Foster was not sincere; otherwise, he wjwld have put his Association to better service .than cabling to question his (the speaker's) data). It seemed to liim that Mr. Foster's aim was to defeat the best and most practical reforms for handling and marketing New Zealand produce in London. lie had been trifling with the interests of the producers, and allowing their interests to be subservient to those of the meat speculators and London importers. In substantiating his 1 , statement that there was cold storage at Bristol for over 200,000 carcases of mutton, Mr. Lysnar quoted a letter signed by the chairman of the Port of Ifristol, dated August 26, 1912, to justify his statement, to the extent that there was cold storage capacity at the Bristel docks for 100,000 carcases. "That," said Mr. Lysnar, "showed that Mr. Foster was 20,000 out." In addition to the storage for 100,000 carcases, there were cold stores owned by Benjamin Berry and Sons, Ltd., and another firm, both having a capacity of over 50,000 each. There was also another cold store owned by the dock authorities, which was now ' being used for other purposes. Dealing with Mr. Foster's Association's annual report for 1!)I2, Mr. Lvsnar said that there were at least live important incorrect and misleading statements in it, namely: (1) That a contract had been let by the Port Authority for the promised extension and sorting shed at the Albert Dock; (2) that entirely new storage accommodation would have to be erected at the South-West India Dock; (3) that the question of railway communication with the South-West In- I dian Dock would have to be considered; (4) that there was more anxiety in |i shipowners' minds about being able to use the West India Dock; (5) that by the Association's plan they showed that there was railway connection from the ; Albert Docks to Smithtield market. Mr. i ( Lysnar showed, by actual photos find ; ( other data, that not one of these stui&e- » ments was justified, showing Mr. Fas- 1 ter's insincerity. Mr. Lysnar poiitted |j out that Mr. Foster had selected! an ' adjuster of damage claims as liis. re- 1 presentative at Home, just the, class of 1 man whose business would be lost if the producers succeeded in effecting the ! desired improvements, which would ob- j viate damage. Had Mr. Foster been sincere, the speaker said that he would have come to the meeting and justified . his position, and shown the farmers that 1 the Producers' Association scheme was . not the best. Mr. Lysnar quoted a ' letter from a North Island freezing eoni- 1 pany promising support for the Pro- } dueers' Association scheme. 1