The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1920. THE FRFOZEN MEAT GLUT.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1920, Page 6

The Daily News. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1920. THE FRFOZEN MEAT GLUT.

At a recent meeting of farmers at Palmerston North the position of the frozen meat trade, in view of the lifting of the commandeer, formed the chief topic of discussion. It was stated by Mr. Polson (Wanganui) that thousands of carcases belonging to the Imperial Government were in store, and must be. shipped before the farmers could send one carcase to the Old Country. He pointed out that, if three or four million carcases were in store in the Dominion when freezing operations commenced next season, the position would be so serious that it would be impossible for any freezing company to carry on its business, because it would not know when it could ship the produce, and what it would receive for it on the market. The meat would, if possible, be put into store at considerably higher rates than heretofore, and the farmers would have to go to the banks to get advances, and, in face of no reliable assurance being forthcoming as to when the meat would be got away, and the probable price it would *€etch, the advaaces might not be made—an impasse that might drive the farmers into the net of the Meat Trust. Last year, said Mr. Poison, the remedy suggested was to send a Commission Home to urge the Imperial Government to do certain things. The Commission was nominated by the Farmers' Union and the Sheepowners' Federation, but did not leave the Dominion, and Mr. Massey recently stated that it should not go. He did not blame Mr. Massey, but the trouble was that the Premier had not sufficient information, and his advisers had let him down. The upshot of the meeting (at which it was urged that the commandeer should be extended until the stores were cleared, as there was nothing binding in the agreement with the Imperial Government as to the time for removing the meat from the Dominion stores, and it might lie there for two years) was that the Government be asked if it is intended to send Home the Commission appointed, and, if not, why not? A correspondent, lately returned from England, recently wrote «o the Wanganui Herald, stating that the Imperial Government had been dumping Argentine and Brazilian meat into England ever since the armistice, and that the glut was timed to coincidewith the removal of the commandeer. To this Mi\ Massey replied that the statement was contrary to fact. He also denied that American firms had been given preference by the British Government, pointing out that the ships used to convey American troops to the West front carried meat, though he admits this meat was bought at a much higher price than that obtained from New Zealand. The correspondent, in reply, reaffirms his statements, and quotes from Sir Thos. McKenzie's recent statement to show the facts that Mr. Massey contradicts. It cannot be denied that the Dominion's interests have sometimes appeared to suffer by comparison with those of foreign countries, or that meat bought by the Imperial Government in the United States 'tod the Argentine at enormous prices sometimes arrived in bad condition. The opinion that was expressed some three months ago by the British Food Controller that there would be a world-short-age of meat in 1920 if all restrictions and control were removed at the end of 1919, is a view, although disputed by experts, that has evidently inspired British policy, yet, in view of the glut then existing, and the enormous quantity to be lifted from the Dominion, it is obvious that the opinion was ill-founded, aad its acceptance may prove a very serious matter to New Zealand producers. A' recent cable stated that the Incorporated Society of Meat Importers had drawn attention to the fact that the weekly consumption of colonial meat, in Britain amounted to only a moiety of the weekly arrivals; that the cold stores were full, causing a delay in the discharge of steamers, and that, unless drastic action were taken as to reducing tlie price of meat, the situation in July, when Home supplies would be available, would be most serious. The Food Controller contends that the glut is only temporary, due to the arrival of vast purchases in Australia and New Zealand, but Mr. Hugh Burrell (Associated Freezing Companies) stated at the Palmerston meeting tliat some of the freezing companies were on the verge of closing down owing to the shortage of space, adding 'that, taking the most optimistic view of Mr. Massey 's shipping figures, there would not be enough ships to take away the four million carcases that would be in our stores at the commencement of next year; while Mr. H. G. Stringer (Feilding said there was no question

that there were thousands of tons [ of meat in excess of requirements. The position is that the people of Britain want the meat that is being held up, but not at the high price at which it has been doled out in order to minimise the loss consequent on the abnormal prices paid to America and the Argentine. The producers of the Dominion want the stores cleared of commandeered meat, and to obtain an approximate idea as to future prospects ajid prices. The British Government may fairly be urged to redouble its efforts to clear the New Zealand stores, and to sell out the meat held in store in Britain, while Mr. Massey should place the position of the Dominion producers fully and fairly before the Imperial Government, and press for a frank statement of policy and the equitable treatment of the producers.