EXPORT OF MEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1921, Page 5

EXPORT OF MEAT.

ALLEGED HOLD-UP. ATTACK BY ARMOUR’S. NEW ZEALAND’S POLICY. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Sept. 13. The Pall Mall Gazette gives prominence to what it describes as New Zealand’s hold-up of meat, and publishes details of the dispute between New Zealand and the “Big Five,” based on statements made by Armour’s representatives. The paper says that several hundred thousand sheep and lambs are lying rotting in the storehouses at Christchurch, instead of being sent to the London markets.

The Pall Mall Gazette makes a feature of an interview with Armour’s London manager, Mr. Cabell, alleging that one reason for the high meat prices in Britain is the New Zealand Government’s refusal to allow Armour’s to export sheep and lambs, stating that possibly the New''Zealand Government was unduly influenced by middlemen who resented Armour’s competition and induced the embargo' on several hundred thousand carcases.

The Pall Mall Gazette does not vouch for the accuracy of the statement, but adds that the explanation is plausible. The article outlines the history of the United States Government’s intervention in the matter.

AN ABSOLUTE DENIAL. SMALL QUANTITY IN STORES. NO TIME TO PERISH. By Telegraph —Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. Referring to the Pall Mall Gazette’s statement, as cabled, Mr. W. I. Carney, of Armour and Co., Ltd., Australia, gave an absolute denial to the statement that several hundred thousand carcases were lying rotting in New Zealand cold stores. As a matter of fact, about 350,000 carcases were in store in New Zealand, but these were only from the killing of the season just ended, and it would be ridiculous to say : that in such a short time the frozen meat I was perishing. This meat had accumulated in the freezing stores since the Minister of Customs, acting under an unrepealed provision Of the War Regulations Act, had refused Armour’s a permit to export meat. ‘’We hope that when Mr. Massey returns to New Zealand things will be straightened out to the satisfaction of everybody,” said Mr. Carney. The representative of a large freezing company said the cabled message was obviously absurd. As far as he knewj there were only 300,000 carcases in the New Zealand cold stores, and when the exportations of frozen meat from the Argentine were taken into consideration that amount would have no effect in reducing meat prices in Britain. Wellington, Last Night. In regard to the sensational meat bold- I up cable, a Pressman was informed that it was utterly absurd to say that several hundred thousand carcases of sheep and lamb were lying rotting in a Christchurch storehouse. All the meat held in the freezing works in different parts‘of, the Dominion was in good order. The statement was an indication of how inaccurate the whole thing was, and was not in keeping with fact. No doubt the Government had held Up meat in New Zealand, but only pending a satisfactory arrangement .being arrived at.