MEAT IN LONDON.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1916, Page 6

MEAT IN LONDON.

PRIVATE DEALERS SCORE. RETAILERS' UNLIMITED PROFITS. PARLIAMENT'S DISSATISFACTION. Wellington, Wednesday. A lengthy and important statement on the private sales of New Zealand meat bought by the Imperial Government was made by the Premier in the House yesterday. Mr. Masscy generally expressed satisfaction with the whole system, except that while wholesalers' profits were carefully restricted the retailers may charge high prices without restraint. The Premier stated that only a small quantity of New Zealand beef went on to the private market. In August, Ifllo, the 'High Commissioner cabled that the Imperial Government was holding all wether mutton for the army. All lamb was sold to the civil population. The agents nominated by the New Zealand shippers sold this meat to the wholesalers, who in their turn so'.d direct to the retailers', dealing being for-, bidden. To quotations f.o.b. must be added the charges incurred before the meat was realised. These quotations, it was impossible to exactly ascertain, but he estimated that there was 21d and possibly 2 5-Sd a pound addition to f.o.b. prices. Taking the latest quotations this resulted as follows: —(Landed cost, English market price, Board of T ids profit): Mutton 7, S 5-Bd, profit 1 5-Sd; ewe mutton CJd. SJd, profit ljd; lamb S 1-Sd, njd, profit 1 3-Sd. The'margin of profit had not always been at this level. Last September sales showed losses on mutton of 1-Sd per pound; ewe D-Sd; lamb \i\. Since then there has been a sharp rise. In January, profits had been made as follows: —January fl-lOd; Feb. . r )-S(l; March 1 11-lfid; April 7-Sd; May 5-l(!d; .Tune 5-Sd. Taking the position as a whole the Imperial Board of Trade had grave doubts as to whether the prices realised were sufficient to cover the actual cost and expense of handling and clearing New Zealand stocks. The Premier mentioned that there wao two million carcases in store in New Zealand. It was expected to clear out and forward to Britain all but half a million carcases before the next season opened. PRODUCERS DISCONTENTED. So far as the producers were concern- | ed they admitted that at present they were obtaining a fair and reasonable price, but undoubtedly there was a feeling that while there was no objection to the Imperial Government making a prolit on the meat, the producers objected to the retailers making, what appeared from reports, to be unduly large profits. Mr. raync: AVhat about the wholesaler? Mr. Masscy: He's limited to a halfpenny per pound, but the retailer is alile to charge the highest price he can get. Communications have been passing between the New Zealand and Imperial Governments on this point. It is quite likely that I will have an opportunity of looking 'ito the position personally. It is not a satisfactory arrangement. I speak on behalf of the Government and the producer and I hope that a better system will be arranged in the future., THE MATTER DISCUSSED. Discussion followed, members strongly objecting to the English retailer's position. Mr. Pearce contended that if the New Zealand and British Governments got all the profits made, the New Zealand farmers would not complain, but he maintained that it was speculators in England who were reaping a big harvest out of our meat profits. Why was it that New Zealand lamb and mutton which fetched about threepence a pound more than Argentine meat was now being sold at Smithfield at a lower rate, than Argentine mutton? Our lamb was being sold at !)Jd per pound instead of a shilling and a halfpenny and someone was pocketing the difference. Mr. Nosworlhy objected to the personnel of the three men who dealt in London wi(h our surplus meat and eontended that they were all interested men. Mr. Masscy said that a sub-committee appointed to dispose of the Colonial surplus meat had been appointed on account of their acquaintance with the requirements of thi! meat trade. lie had heard of suggestions that two of those gintlemen were using their position to their own advantage and he had accordingly communicated with Sir T. MacKenzie on the subject and he had replied that he was satisfied that neither of the two gentlemen mentioned were us■nsthciv uosiliou: fur, personal prolit.