LONDON AND OUR MEAT

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1096, 7 April 1911, Page 6

LONDON AND OUR MEAT

> Mil. LYSNAR AT MASTERTON. THE SHIPPING Ol ; PRODUCERS. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Masterton, April 6. Mr. W. D. Ly.-nar, of Gisborr.e, addressed about forty settlers in Murray's Hall this afternoon on the rniestion of the handling of fro7.cn meat and other produce in London. Mr. Lysnar traverse:! the same grounds as in other centres, and urged that a producer's committee should scud a relirssentative to London to look after their interests. Mr. W. (.]. Foster (managing director of the Wellington -Meat Kxport Co.), who was present, said that the companies appreciated the work which v;as being done by Mr. Lysnar- They weru agreed that something should bo done to improve the conditions at Homo. The >'orili Island companies had now decided lo appoint a representative, and negotiations to this end were all but completed. Mr. W. C. Buchanan, M.P., endorsed the remarks of Mr. Foster, and stated that not ten per cent, of the meat which reached London belonged to the producer.-. It had passed out of their hands before it reached the market, and it was a ruiest ion whether a representative of the producers (if sent Home) would be permitted to interfere. Mr. J. G. Cooper (chairman of directors of the Wellington Farmers' Meat Company) agreed with tha statement of Mr. Buchanan, and added that he saw no reason why producers should go, to the expense of appointing a representative when the companies had agreed to do so. At. the close of the meeting Mr. Lysnar was thanked for his address, and a resolution was passed (on the motion of Mr. D. M'Gregor. sen., seconded by Mr. J. Cooper), as follows:— "That this meeting approves of the refinest of the New Zealand Committee for improved facilities being provided for the handling and marketing of New Zealand produce at the port of London and the Smithficld markets, and also approves of the suggestion to form a New Zealand Producers' Association." At the conclusion of his address yesterday, Mr. Lysnar. reviewing a remark by Mr. Buchanan, that not ten per cent, of the frozen meat was handled in. London belonged to the producers, referred to a similar statement made by Mr. W. G. Foster. Mr. Lysnar said that he had made inquiries, and had found lhat of the output of the Gisborne works K!.S per cent, were shipped on account of owners, lie had not been able to get details of the operations of other companies, but he refused to believo that settlers in these parts were less selfreliant than those of Poverty Bay. Mr. D. M'Gregor, sen., in proposing the resolution approving a request for improved facilities for handling meat at Home, expressed regret, that Mr. Lysnar should have, passed the remarks ivhich ho did concerning Mr. Foster. The meeting was prepared to believe that G3 per cent, of the Poverty Bay meat was shipped On behalf of owners, but Mr. Lysnar and the meeting had a right also to accept (he word of Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Foster that the producers of other parts were not shipping on their own account. Mr. Cooper also took occasion to resent the remarks of Mr. Lysnar. He pointed out that Mr. Fester had taken a great interest in the matter of securing an improvement in the handling of moat at Home, ami he was quite satisfied that lie was within the marl; when he said that, not 10 per cent, of ihe meat shipped Home belonged to the producers when it arrived. The company which the speaker represented had. offered inducements to set Mors to ship on their own nec.innt and had found,them unwilling to do so.