THE FROZEN MEAT CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 213, 6 September 1895, Page 3

THE FROZEN MEAT CONFERENCE.

MR NATHAN'S SCHEME DISCUSSED.

(BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Wellington, this day. At the Frozen Meat Conference, Mr Mackintosh, of the Western District Farmers' Association, replying to Mr Nathan, complained that no reference had been made to the London ring. It was a gigantic evil, and would deed our united efforts to oppose. There was nothing wrong about our freezing companies nor our ships ; the evil was in London. A powerful association must be formed to get at the consumers over the heads of London middlemen. No Government interference was needed, but an independent association of producers was.

Tho Hon. T. Fergus thought the business of the Conference was to consider the resolution of the Provisional Commibtee. He entirely disagreed with tbe resolutions as regards increased taxation. He was voicing nearly the wbolo of the South Island sheep farmers, who Condemned the interference of the Government. The pro* posed taxation would be ruinous, and meant more inspectors. Freezing Companies wore quite able to look after had loading.

Mr Begg, of the New Zealand Refrigerating Company, Dunedin, said he was sent to oppose Mr Nathan's scheme. He read the resolution of his Company to oppose bhe establishment of a monopoly. He advocated storage in bhe colony to help preventing gluts in the Home markets, and deprecated tho alarmist speeches made by M essrß N athan and Orboll. The trade was in a fair position, and with lower freights they could do very well without going into gigantic combinations as was proposed. He combatted the statement that frozen mutton was' unknown in the North of London. Birmingham and other midland towns were good customers for our mutton. He had seen a deal of our mutton ticketed in the principal London streets ab sixpence per lb, a rate not leaving much for the retail butcher. As Mr Nathan bad stated that tbe proposed tax was the crux of tho whole affair, he thought farmers would be opposed to it &b a body. Ib would pay every freezing company to have storage to hold several months' yield ab once.

Mr Buddo, M.H.R. (New Zealand Farmers' Association), as representing his Association, opposed Government interference. The different financial footing of freezing companies waa a strongs.objection bo amalgamation. He bold how the primest colonial mutton was sold as English and large lambs as Welsh mutton. He strongly objected to taxation of sheep. Woolgrowing sheep farmers had no interests in the proposals, and amall farmers breeding for colonial sale only would feel the proposed tax was unfair. He quoted many instances where our mutton was sold in Leeds and Manchester by butchers who wore afraid to call ib colonial. As to storage here, he thought it better to store' at Home, as providing a more regular supply to Home customers, such stores to be fed from bore-

Mr W. Nelson said Mr Nathan's scheme was unworkable, and he regretted that Mr Nachan had not gone more into detail. The schemes were rosy a9 generalities, but when you came to details the rosiness disappeared. Irregularity of supply was the main cause of bad prices. The middleman, so much abused, was not to be seen. Nelson Bros, had been looking for him, but could not find him, therefore he did not exist. Steamers must be considered, and if they were nob filled the empty, ships must be paid for. He had provided increased storage so as to give regular shipments Home, He instanced the Ty_er line as something: done by the existing companies to gob lower freights. He accepted Orbell's suggestion re agreement as to action between the freezing companies, but said ib should be done privately, not publicly. Control of the output and bebter quality of sheep were bhe main things te look for. The freezing companies were custodians of public interests, and sheep farmers musfc listen bo them.

Mr Nathan said Mr Nelson had proved bis remark that it waß useless to discuss details unless the principle of a sheep tax were accepted.

The Chairman said there was.no use blinding oneself bo bhe facb that bad sheep were sent Home, and he disbelieved existence of a London ring.

Messrs Bradey, Kirkbride, Chayter, Dairymple, Anderson, Litchfield, and Sir John Hall opposed Mr Nathan's scheme.

Mr Nabhan withdrew his scheme. Ordinary commercial business was of such a nature now, that isolated efforts were of no avail against strong combinations. He referred indirectly to the effect on freights of ships coming empty here, they being naturally kepb empty by protective imports, but this was a political matter he would nob enter on.

Votes of thanks were passed to Messrs Nathan and Orbell, and the Conference adjourned,