MEAT SALES IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27875, 25 January 1956, Page 15

MEAT SALES IN BRITAIN

ROLE OF FATSTOCK CORPORATION DEALINGS IN IMPORTS DEFENDED (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, January 23. “A good deal of criticism” has been levelled during the last 12 months at the Fatstock Marketing Corporation. Limited, for its dealings in imported meat, says the corporation in a statement to the press. The corporation is importing from New Zealand, it is to import from Australia and made “trial arrangement” last year with the Argentine Producers’ Co-operative Organisation to dispose of small quantities of chilled beef.

The corporation states that some of the criticism emanated, sometimes by devious routes, from its competitors in the wholesale meat trade, whose share of the imported meat market stands to be diminished by the development of the corporations activities. “Other criticisms stem from confused thinking on the part of individual home producers, who fear that the corporation is acting directly against their interests by dealing in ‘competitive’ imported meat. , “Some of these people have viewed ifrith genuine but mistaken alarm the prospect of the managing director of the corporation Setting out to ‘consolidate and extend’ the relationship with the New Zealand meat producers.” The statement says that the corpora ation can give this “sound categorical and incontrovertible” answer to criticism that the interests of domestic producers will not be jeopardised. Importing Activities

“Meat imported by the corporation represents no addition whatever to the total volume imported into the country. The United Kingdom market requires at least 1,000,000 tons of meat over and above current home production. It is better that it should be marketed by a producer organisation on behalf of other producer organisations than by any other means. “Secondly, the availability of adequate supplies of imported meat will put the corporation on an equal looting with the powerful concerns which, with no consideration for the interests of home producers, have previously had exclusive control of the meat importing business.

“The permanent ability of the corporation to supply butchers with their requirements of both home-killed and imported meat cannot fail to help the corporation to sell more home-killed meat to more customers.

“Thirdly, with sufficient influence in the imported meat trade, the corporation will be better able to put an increasing order into the United Kingdom meat market as a whole to the advantage of producer and consumer alike.

“Fourthly, its trade in imported meat enables the corporation to spread its overheads still further. Successful prosecution of such trading can also serve the even more positive function of enhancing the commercial and financial strength of the corporation to a substantial degree.” The statement adds that the corporation intends developing its activities in the imported meat trade to the maximum desirable extent and effect.