THE MEAT TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1916, Page 6

THE MEAT TRADE.

MARKETING o.'-. LAMB Mr. J. C. Cooper, of Mnsterton, who lias just returned from England, Itarl some interesting things to sav to an Afro reporter concerning th« New Zealand meat trade. He stated that very little New Zealand meat, lamb excepted, went on the English market. The price of lamb was controlled by a rommittee unpointed bv the Hoard of Trade, of which Sir Thomas Robinson was the chairman. The price fixed for New Zealand lamb when Mr. Cooper was in England, was 10d per pound. The lamb was first handled bv agent= of the New Zealand firms which had sold to the Government. Each agent was notified by the committee that so many lamb; were available. When the Imperial Government was paid the prie. l it had paid the producer, plus charges, the store warrant was handed over to (be acrent, who then sold at lOd per lb to the dealers. The difference between the price paid the Imperial authorities and the lOd per lb was handed over to the Board of Trade, less 2 per c-ent. for commission. The agents divided the available carcases among their clients, who sold to the retailers at an advance of id per lb. If any agent or clii.nt charged a larger sum than was fi.ved by the Board of Trade, he would be refused further supplies. There was no limit to the price fixed bv retailers. Mr. Cooper said that retailers themselves claimed to be selling New Zealand lamb at from Is 3d to Is 4d per lb. He had reason to believe however, that as high as 2s per lb had been charged. Asked if any of the New' Zealand lairh went to the American Meat Trust, Mr Cooper stated that he had not sufficient evidence to say yes or no. He saw no colonial meat on the American stands he has visited. The Trust has a big hold in all the large centres, but what he saw on sale was chiefly Argentine and Fatagonian meat. "While our meat was selling at 103 d pel pound jrt Smithfield, inferior Argentine and Fatagonian was selling at 12ld wholesale." "Has the American Meat Trust large contracts with the War Office?"

,'Yes," replied Mr. Cooper, "it has the contract for beef supplies for the Army. One of the conditions of the contract is that it has the right of a certain portion of the refrigerating tonnage for its own business in Great Britain. As far as I could see it would be impossible to regulate the priee of American meat. Tf an attempt were made to do so, the trade would be driven to France, Russia, Italy, and other countries. Although we m New Zealand may not receive the full market value of our meat, we recehe an excellent price, and we have an assur ed transport, which means everything. The British Government gives us this assurance. Tiie Argentine has not beei. able to get its supplies away regularly."