DOMINION MUTTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9544, 16 July 1909, Page 5

DOMINION MUTTON.

MEAT IMPORTERS' AGREEMENT. Received July 15, 8.50 p.m. LONDON, July 15. The meat importers' agents state that the agreement cabled yesterday has thus far been working smoothly. The inclem.nt weather was the chief cause of the glut of Jambs still, as the market is over-.upplied to the extent of one million lambs and one mil'ion sheep only fine weather will save the situation. The increase in prices was arranged because the butchers feared the competition of the small barrow or stall, and street salesmen. The retailers were willing to pay an extra farthing in order to keep the cost;rmongers out. Mr Cameron, New Zealand Pro-

duce Commissioner, speaking at a meeting on behalf of Mr Hall Jones, said that Nsw Zealand was anxious (o assist the trade, and circularise 1 »rgel.y, hie doubted the advisability of soendin.jr £2,000 or £IO,OOO on

advertising i r i t!ie newspapers. In thi3 conntcti >n it was suggested at the meeting that it would be unfair to ask New Zealand to bear the cost of advertising, which would benefit Australia and Argentine equally with New Zealand. The importers in answer said that 9-10ths of the present stock of lambs came from New Zealand.

A cablegram yesterday stated that a meeting of New Zealand and Australian meat importers, discussed the glut in the market and the serious decline in prices. Without exacting any individual pledges the meeting approved of the principle of abstaining, as an experiment, during the next ten days from selling Canterbury sheep carcases of less than 361b under 4d, 36 to 421b under 3dJ, 42 to 501b under 3£d, and choice North Island and Southland Jd per lb less in each grade The chairman did not believe these fixtures would check the sales. He estimated that 1.000,000 carcases were now stored. It was resolved to ask the New Zealand Government to undertake systematic advertising of meat during the continuance of the glut, in the interests of the Dominion's trade.