The Meat Trade.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15219, 5 March 1915, Page 6

The Meat Trade.

Tho difficult problem o<: how to carry put the Imperial Government's wishes, that the whole of our export of frozen meat should go through their hands, appears to have been most eatisfactorily dealt with at tho recent conference of the Board of Agriculture and representatives of tho freezing and shipping companies convened by the* Prime 'Minister. The expert knowledge of the companies' - representatives was freely placed at the Government's disposal, and »n arrangement come to that should, on tho whole, prove satisfactory to everyone concerned. Tho interest* of the two principal parties, tho producers and the exporters, appear to have been well conserved. There should'be little .dislocation of the usual arrangements for dealing with meat, aljvo or dead, at thie end. and probably tho most serious disturbance will bo tho cawelling of contracts between the exporters and their clients in England. This may not, however, prove to l>e a great difficulty, and wo may expect that when the trade resumes its normal, working there will bo satisfactory adjustments. It is quite apparent that under th« arrangements made by the Government for talcing over the meat supply, the sheopfarmer is placed in a good position. A certain market at payable prices is assured, and he need take no more risk, unless he wishes to. than he did before the arrangement was arrived at. The

exporters, we are ir.formed, are prepared to carry on their buying operations as usual, as soon as space is available in the freeeing works, nnd the farmer can obtain his cash at or.cc for any freeziug stock he has to sell. The exporters margin of profit will bo a smaller one, as his ljpiit of speculation will be chiefly upon the skins. The keen competition that there is likely to be. and the open door that will still remain for farmers to freeze fneir own etock. if "they are not satisfied with the prices offered on the farm or in the .yard, will prevent stock from being obtained below the fair market value. The fixing of the prices of meat for export should also be of come benefit to the local consumer, as it v.-il! keep the fat stock markets at a more steady level than at present. . The development that has taken place in the froson meat trade is the most important in its

historr. and as it will only bo temporary, it is to be hoped that it will bo carried out successfully. Its duration depend upon the ~ar, and the sooner that is over the sooner will the trade resume its normal lines. Ono of tho effects of a successful termination of the war .should bo that France will become one of our regular customers for frozen meat, and ultimately the extension of a market upon the Continent should be an easier matter than it has hitherto nroved.