OUR MEAT EXPORTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1916, Page 3

OUR MEAT EXPORTS.

IS XEW ZEALAND AT A DIS ADVANTAGEt

(From Our Own Correspondent)

Wellington, August Itf. Communications are still being exchanged between tiie Board of Trade and the New Zealand Government with regard to tbe distribution in Great Britain of frozen meat not requited for Army purposes. Complaints have been made in the Dominion that very 'high profits were being made by selling agents, who took over from the Board of Trade a part of the meat requisitioned at fixed prices in Xeu Zealand, and it has also been suggested that foieigu companies have been able to exercise an influence 011 prices contrary to the interests of colonial producers. These points are mentioned in a cablegram received from tlie High Commissioner. "A despatch follows by mail with letter ironi the Board of Trade, explaining the existing system and giving prices," sjy.s the High Commissioner in his message. "The Hoard of Trade points out t'liat many hundreds of retail butchers in the United Kingdom have had to close thcii shops, and the profits of the retail trade, except in certain favored localities, arc probably less 011 an average than before the war. The costs of handling the meat have risen enormously.

''There is no means of fixing the price of cattle sold by farmers here in small quantities, or of compelling foreign companies to bring meat here. Thougl' the profits made on Aigentine muttor, and lamb early in the season were high, they related to a comparatively small portion of tlie meat. No American companies act as selling agents, and as distributors they can purchase only on the same terms as everyone else. It is impossible for them to exercise any control ovei ■tlie price of New Zealand mutton or lamb.

"The Board of Trade deprecate raising prices, and urge that their action has greatly assisted the expansion of the \eiv-Zealand meat trade."

The Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F, Massc.y) will await the arrival of the despatch mentioned by the High Commissioner before proceeding further with tlie matter. The Hoard of Trade has indicated its willingness to meet X'ew Zealand producers in a fair spirit, and tlie force of some of the points raised in the cablegram is undeniable. The Argentine companies, owning no allegiance to the Empire, have been in a position to drive a hard bargain with the British .Government, which must have meat for Army and civilian use. New Zealand producers would scarcely contend that they should be allowed to follow the example of a foreign country and "squeeze'' the Motherland 'it a moment when her necessities are gieatest. The other point, the difference between the Board of Trade's price and the retail price charged in Britain by dealers, is scarcely covered by the cablegram, but the despatch may throw some further light upon it.