MEAT EXPORT TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1115, 1 May 1911, Page 8

MEAT EXPORT TRADE.

THE MINISTER INTERVIEWED. In tho course of a recent interview, the Minister for Agriculture (Hon. 'I'. Mackenzie) stated that thero would bo a shortage in the butter and meat exports this year, and there was likely to be a very big shortage of winter fetv.l for the stock. The turnip crop had practically perished, and tho country had suffered from tho drought, though it improved in appearance the farther one went south, to Bruce and Clutha for instance. ■ Asked whether there were any noteworthy developments in the prospects of the meat export trade, the Minister said that a very important movement was on foot among the North Island Meat Freezing Companies, which had appointed an expert to specially represent their interests in the Home Country. The Government were steadily exercising their influence upon the Continental Governments, with a view to getting permission for the entrance of New Zealand frozen meat. Regarding tho prospects of tho meat market, on the Continent, for n reasonably early future, one had only to observe the conditions on tho Continent to become optimistic. The Continent has already consumed its available supply of meat, and in order to keep up the supply they are using horses, dogs, and donkeys. A magazine writer had pointed out that all the meat in Germany is divided into three classes:— (1) Wholesomo meat, which could be . sold in any quantity to any person. ( (2) Wholesome parts of meat, from which diseased parts had been cut off. | (3) The diseased portions of meat ij charged with tuberculosis and cancer, which had been sterilised nt the temperature of 212 degrees, and sold to tho people. .And," finally, the writer,pointed but, the very worst meat, which was considered of no class at all, was manufactured into German sausages. Tet, _ continued tho Minister, with all thsse different methods of using up tho meat supply, the supply was entirely inadequate to meet tho demand of the working people of Germany, and they must soon demand a wholesome supply of.imeat food at reasonable rates. Austria agreed to admit all frozen meat Bent from the Argentine during 1911, added the Minister, and two shipments, one of 400fl carcasses, and one of 8000 carcasses, arrived. This supply, however, was recently ' stopped on account of a secret treaty with Hungary, w r hich provided that without Hungaiy'_> consent, meat was not to be admitted from foreign countries. Tho time must came, however, when meat from abroad would be demanded by the work- . ing population of Austria. Switzerland, Portugal, Italy, and Prance all admitted foreign meat, subject in most of the'cases to a tariff. Portugal, however, had recently taken its tariff off altogether. In the other countries the tariff Tanged from jd. to 2?, d. per lb., the highest duty being *" v '~ that of France. Recently,, when there was a slump in the price of meat in Britain, France increased her duty. In conclusion, the Minister said, the prospects of colonial meat, finding a market on the Continent were steadily growing brighter, and the farmers could look with' confidence to the futuro in that respect.