BRITISH MEAT MARKET.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1921, Page 8

BRITISH MEAT MARKET.

STORE CATTLE FROM CANADA.

EFFECT ON NEW ZEALAND.

The report of the Royal Commission in England which recently inquired into the question of the importation of store cattle was the subject of some comments on Saturday by Mr. James Boddie, of Auckland. The commission stated that’ the admission of Canadian store stock was advisable, and would tend to cheapen in some measure the meat supply of the country, and also to increase the number of livestock after the losses during and since the War. It found that the feeling was general among farmers against the admission of cattle, but so far as this was created by apprehension that disease might be introduced, it considered there was no foundation for such apprehension. The importation, however, might make it more difficult for crofters and small farmers in the highlands to carry on their operations successfully, and to some extent deprive the Irish farmers of the market they at present enjoyed m Great Britain.

Mr. Boddie said it was quite evident that the embargo on the importation of store cattle had existed for a long time, and there had been strong objection to it by English and Scottish farmers. Ono of the main reasons that had been urged against the lifting of the embargo was the fear of introducing foot, mouth, and other diseases into Britain. The outstanding reason, however, was no doubt the fear on the part of these farmers that with the tremendous areas of cat-tle-raising country in Canada it would be a very easy matter to so flood the store market that cattle-raising in Britain would become unprofitable. During the taking of evidence by the commission, according to the official report, it was admitted that the free importation of store cattle could easily result in the cheapening of beef to the extent of from 3£d to Gd per lb, and it was quite conceivable that 'beef would drop to a price which would be below that at which the British farmer could produce it. If such a result should occur what hope, said Mr. Broddie, would New Zealand farmers, distant from the market 14,000 miles, and with high freezing charges, high freights, and high land values, have of finding a payable market.? Another phase of the question was that Ireland, which for many years had sent its surplus supplies to England and found a good market would be largely outsed by Canada. Of course, the question of reducing the cost of living to the consumers in England had formed the chief reasons in favor of the lifting of the embargo.