MEAT AT HOME.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 February 1920, Page 5

MEAT AT HOME.

THE PATAGONIAN' PURCHASE;

' KEASON FOR THE GLUT. STATEMENT BY THE PREMIER. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) Wcllingtci, Last Night. The Prime Minister said to-day that he had no official information concerning the reported' purchase of Patagonian meat by Britain. He- was not inclined to attach much importance to the move as far as New Zealand was concenu J. Most of the meat would be beef. V.w. export of mutton, from Patagonia was elatively a small matter, and the quali y of this mutton would not bring it into serious competition; with New Zealand supplies. The Patagonian meat,, indeed, probably was required for consumption in Europe. Much had been said about the glut of m»at jn Great Britain, added the Prime Minister., A fact overlooked in many quarters was. the relation between this glut and the bad English spring of last year. The -hay. was almost a failure in many parts- of England last year, and the root crops were very poor, The eonsequence- was that, when winter came, the farmers could not hold and fatten their stock.- The strength of the flocks and herds, had been maintained during the war in the United Kingdom. The lack "of winter' fodder meant that large numbers of animals were pushed on to the market in order to relieve the, farms, and this movement had been an important factor in causing the glut of which so' much had been heard lately. He believed that it accounted to a very great eitent.for the state of affairs that had been causing anxiety in tfiis country.