A SERIOUS OUTLOOK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 279, 14 August 1918, Page 4

A SERIOUS OUTLOOK

POSITION OF MEAT COMPANIES., The seriousness of the skipping position was emphasised by the managing director of tno Wellington Meat Export Company (Mr. W. G. Foster) in his address at the annual mooting of the company yesterday. "In my address last year," he Paid, "I mentioned that so far as the past season's meat was concerned I lied no anxiety as to capacities to deal v ith if, hut I was not sanguine for tho ensuing season, which we are now cpproaching, prospects for which are vvvy serious. At the present time there are, approximately, 5} million freight carcasses in the stpres .in New ' Zealfnd, with an additional capacity of only li million freight carcasses. "The probabilities of relief bv Mapping are indiifercnt, and it would itucar as if by the commence,n_>:it of tlio busy season, capacities will be exhausted, and unless considerably i.-icreasod shipping faciliti?-? are provided it is. in my opinion, certain that a considerable pronortion of the stock available for export must, either be held on pasture, or other means than freezing mnst bo adonted. "The Government is alive to the tt riousness of the position, and las tlio matter under oonsid^atio'i: every ' lnvsible means' of averting loss to stnel;owners will no doubt be availed of. but time presses, and with this outlook it behoves graziers to reflect icfors coutiniiinc the extreme prices for store stock which have been current recentlf "Companies are being to n-s----nihilities of increase of freezing capacities nn'd sto'"ure. bnt timn is short.- especially for the North Island, ar.d not verv much can be done to ]rm«sities. But even were it nrnotieable it it cannot be overlooked that for normal renditions, the present Dominion cotwcity for freezing and storage is adenuafe, further construction mar result in after war, 'white elenhants.' "