DISPOSAL OF MEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1919, Page 3

DISPOSAL OF MEAT.

heavy stocks in store, the question of price Mr. W. G. Poison, in a letter to the Dominion, stated thai the stores in Great Britain were fill! of meat at the present time, while the consumption was being kept at the low war level by high prices and by the new national habit of substituting other foods for meat. He anticipated that there would be over C 0,000,000 freight carcases in store in New Zealand at the beginning of tiic 19*20 season, when the comnrandeer had ceased, and that the freezing buyers would be required to operate while the Imperial Government was still lifting the old stocks. The farmers, under these conditions, would suffer.

"It is reasonable to ask," wrote Mr. Poison, "that our meat should be sold independent of American. If this were (lone it could be immensely popularised at Home without reducing the price to the producer in this 'country. I suggest that our own authorities should concentrate their efforts on having this done, and that the Government should at onco set up and send Home a commission of leading New Zealand producers interested in and, familiar with the meat industry, place the position before the English authorities, and endeavour to "bring this about." The accumulation of meat in tho stores of the Dominion has caused, and is still causing, farmers and exporters a great deal of anxiety. But there is considerable difference of opinion regarding the suggestion made by Mr. Poison. The stores are estimated to contain about 7,000,000 carcases at the present Mmo. This meat is the property of the Imperial Government. Tt lias been bought nnd paid for, and in itself need not cause the producers and further concern. But the meat is occupying • paces in the stores, required for next mason's killings, and its disposal in the future threatens to interfere with 'he fjilo of New Zealand meat after the period of the Imperial purchase has expired. Lack of knowledge of the intentions of the Imperial Government regarding this meat is one of the most | serinna difficulties confronting the exporters, who are looking forward to the resumption of their normal responsibilities next year. The idea of soiling New Zealand meat in Great Britain at a pr : ce lower thnn the price commanded hy American meat is not liked by representatives of tho producers. The claim of the farmer, expressed on many occasions, is that he ought to get the "market value" of his meat. New Zealand meat is being sold to the Imperial Government at present for below the market value, as indicated by the rates prevailing in Britain and America. Tt is well known that the Imperial Government pays more than twice n* much for American meat as for New Zealand meat, that the meat is pooled in the Mother Country, and that the high price paid hv the British wholesaler and the still higher pricp charged the British consumer represent an enormous advance nn the price received by the New Zealand farmer. The farmers "claim that their meat is fairly worth just as much as the American meat.

"We might secure an immediate advantage by selling our meat in Ensland at 7d ov 8d a pound retail, while American and Komc-grown meat, was eostins; nearly three times as much," fin id a representative of terming interests. Tint T dm# t.Tiirvk the Imperial authorities would allow any aneli ararngement, and if they did I don't see how the sales could lie arranged. We could not expect the retailer to sell mutton nt two prices in the same shop. In anv case, the New Zealand farmer does not. want to create an impression that his meat is worth less than other meat imported by Great Britain. We know tlint with an open market New Zealand mutton and lamb are wnrtli more than Argentine mutton and lamb. Our present grievance is tliat we are not. petting a price that reasonably represents the equivalent of the price paid by the. wholesaler in the United Kingdom. I believe that with a free market, we could solve our own difficulties, since buyers would prefer New Zealand meat to American meat on tho ground ( of quality. Failing that, our Government ought to press more vigorously than > ever for an increased supply of shipping. Steamers that belonsr to the New Zealand trade are still lifting Argentine I meat."

Reduced consumption of meat per head in the United Kincdom is regarded by exporters here as merelv toTneorarv. It was suggested to a Dominion reporter that the reduced use of meat in Britain, and the continuance of the rationing system in a modified form, have checked the return to normal habits, but these conditions will not endure. There are indications, moreover, of a demand for frozen and chilled meat from countries that, have not 'hitherto imported to any large extent. France is Bhort of meat and requires to conserve her herds for the replenishment of the ravaged districts. If Germany hands over to France the stipuated quantity of live stock, the position of France will be strengthened, but Germany will have to buy abroad Sweden is contemplating the importation of meat and some of the other small countries are experiencing a pronounced shortage In fact, there are authorities in both Britain and America who are predicting a world-wide shortage of' meat.

_ It 5s certain that a very large quantity of meat now in the New Zealand stores will be carried forward into next, season. But some authorities do not think that, the quantity will be as great as <1,000,000 carcases. A factor that hp been hinted at: already is deterioration. The Imperial Government owns the meat, and it may discover special reasons for hastening shipment. The supply of ships at; the present time is fairly large, and if shipment is continued at the present rate during the off months a substantial reduction will be effected in the quantity held in store. Exporters are not yet satisfied that New Zealand is being treated fairly as compared with Australia, and this point will lie brought under the notice of Mr. Massey as soon as he returns. The allocation of freezing space to New Zealand is made in Australia, and the Australian freezing stores were practically emptied in January last. Yet Australian exporter-! are still getting meat, away. I Several steamers sent to load in New Zealand recently have arrived with part of their freezing space occupied by Australian meat.