THE MEAT TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1269, 26 October 1911, Page 10

THE MEAT TRADE.

METHODS OP HANDLING IN ENGLAND. (By Tclecrapli.—l'resa Association.) Christchurch, October 25. At a meeting of the North Canterbury Executive of the New Zealand F.ii'nior>' Union tp-day Mr. A. W. Kutherford, exM.P. for Iluruiuii, who was present by invitation, addressed the meeting on the methorsof handling New Zealand meat at Home. Mr. Rutherford stated that no had visited the Smithfield markets, and whereas the American Tmi.it meat was placed on the market without a blemish, the New Zealand meat was_ not in good condition. The practice of lauding the moat in London down chutes causal broken bones. The American meat was landed at Liverpool, where trains waited to take the meat, which was handled by the Trust's own men. The N"w Zealand exporters shou'il insist Miat l'ie meat should be landed in dings. The salesmen ia England were making big fortunes, but he could not tell the farmers of New Zealand how thev could divert som<- of tlio profits to their own pockets. ■ _ There were trusts everywhere under their very noses. Under * the vend system only steamship vessels could bring ccnl from Newcastle to the Dominion. The late Mr. Seddon had been in favour of establishing shops in England, but lie (Mr. Rutherford) thought the best thing was to keep on urging the necessity of opening up Continental ports, and ;o beat the English ring. Sir AV. Hall-Jonos, though avoiding the limelight, was doing a great deal to try to open the Continental markets. Mr. Cameron, the Trade Commissioner in London, was an excellent man, and reported frequently to the Gi-vein-mcnt; but the reports were not puiil'sht'tl, perhaps becauso the Government no way of remedying the trouble. The Government was doing a great deal through its Commissioner for the meat producers. Mr. C. 11. Elisor: Should the farmer* organic to profc-ct themselves? Is the Government doing as much as it can? Mr. Rutherford: The farmers should organise. I think that the Government thinks that the farmers can protect themselves. ft is only the poor working man who lioeds protection. Continuing, he said that organisation was the best thing. The chairman (Mr. F. CI. TlorrelD said tho.t if had often been said that the sheen were badly slaughtered. He would not blame the Slaughtermen's Union, but tho farmers in not crutching their shefp. Mr. Rutherford c -,iid that tlio American rattle were slaughtered better than the New Zealand. 'Tlio New Zealand meat was better than the American meat, but w.y: not got up as well. An American expert of the Trust raid that the N;\v Zealand meat was infinitely superior to other mco.tr. but was badly slaughtered. Mr. D. .Tones said that lie had been «s?.iu?;d by a man in the frozen meat businc-s that the trouble was in Ns\r Zealand, where the farmers should organise. Mr. Lu.vCombe c aid that, after hearing Mr. Rutherford, he was more than ever eo;<vii-ced that soma organisation was necessary. There were monopolies. There was one man in Christchurch who controlled the sale of all English cars, and organisation of the producers was necessary to work acainst combines. The details could be settled afterwards, but it would be ne-crsiary to have 11 power for • rating, so that the necessary funds could be obtained. The voluntary system was not geo'i enoii?h. Mr. Rutherford said that in Argentine there was an crganisatvori of freezing works, who fed the market to suit tliom-s-lves. There were enly three freezing works there, and the producers had 110 'ay in tlio t]uf-tion of prices, but hnd to't.aJce what th? organised freezing works chose to givo. It was decided to defer further consideration of the matter.