MANIPULATING THE MEAT MARKET

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2836, 29 July 1916, Page 3

MANIPULATING THE MEAT MARKET

WHO IS GETTING THE BIG PROFITS ? Sir,—As an Old Country butcher, following the trade and picking freezers here, have been much interested in the controversy at the Farmers' Conference, in the House. Also your leading article to-day, re commandecrin;* meat and the restricted wliolesalo price at Home. Being in. close touch with many old friends in the trado at Home, also tho National Federation of Meat Traders. I wish most emphatically to protest against the idea that it is the retailors I who are reaping the Iwnefit. Tho mail on the spot, replies no. You ask him, who is? The reply is, the "Yanks." f\Vhon tho moat is released, it's so tasv for it to lose its identity. The retailers' request for the cheapest quoted meat, viz.,-New Zealand, is met with tho reply, none on offer. He must buy, and that quickly, 01- get nothing, so tho inevitable, happens. He gets his frozen lambs, and has to pay practically whatever the wholesaler has the conscience to ask. To me, last season, picking lambs at about Gil. per lb. when on the world's market (London), should have been paying nearer !)d„ I realised thoroughly the smartness of the meat kings. Mr. Massey stated, and it's well known, that no New Zealand lamb is used for the Imperial Forces ov the Allies. Why not, then, sell it on an open market and the Government take the full or legitimate profit? From a business point, of view the present arrangements are ridiculous. The producer, companies who freeze, retailer, and the buying public, are eetting a gentle squeeze from the feelers of an octonus thai: will give many a tiglier one ill the future—especially the producer. I would like to suggest an idea of my own. that in my humble opinion would benefit the meat trade of this country considerably. ziz„ a universal- brand for nil New Zealand meat: also Governmentowned shops in London and Glasgow, when the public would have -the opuortunity to see and learn the undoubted superior qualities of New Zealand meat, compared to other imported frozen meat. The hundred and one I,rands are very confusing. The average retailer at. Home doesn't know if Tuihape or Wellington is in New Zealand or Australia. He understands thnt if lie gets nnv labelled "Canterbury" (the home of the Romney at Home) he can put a card of that name on it, sort of i'iv<>s it a home-1.-illed flavour, you know. That's-the sort of thing, though not much noticed, h-<? much t« do with the J d. and 'd. per lb. extra; it's the little things that count, especially in the meat trade.—T am. etc.. • ' SAM. S. TIMB3. Taihape, July 27.