FOOD CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 118, 12 February 1920, Page 5

FOOD CONTROL

DEMAND FOR ABOLITION

NO MEAT STORAGE LEFT

Mr. M'. A. Eliott, of Palmerslnn North, who is in close touch with matters connected with the frozen meat trade in tho Old Country, has received by the Homo mail a cutting l'rom the "Daily Mail" of December 2, dealing with the frozen meat position at Home, more especially as it affects the producers at this end. Mr. Gilbert Anderson has forwarded a letter which ho wrote to tho "Mail" in reply to the article, but for which tho paper could not find room. He expresses a hope that means will be taken to put the position before the producers of this Dominion. ' What the "Daily Mail" Says. "AVhilo tho Food Ministry's work in the control of supplies, and in somo cases of prices, may occupy' it. for tho full term of its existence (jnding prubably about next harvest), the trade and the public, are clapiouring for the removal of the dead hand of Government interference with meat, milk, butter and bacon. "Control of each of these four foods lias provided a first-class muddlo and griovance, and in tho first three instances it is not one Government Department alone which is to blame. "In regard to meat, huge contracts were entered into by the Board of Trade about the date of the armistice, on representations made from Now Zealand that the interests of its fanners required such a stop. This was done without tho co-operation and knowledge of tho Ministry of Food, the meat being contracted for on behalf of tho Army nnd somo of the Allies. "This meat is now arriving at our ports in vast quantities at a time when the markets are glutted with home-pro-duced meat. Tho consumer is denied the price advantage of tho glut. The excessive prices arc caused by the. high rates the Government has to pay respectively to the New Zealand and English producers, and to the latter these prices are guaranteed -until next summer. Scheme for De-control. "So serious is the position, involving the possible waste of huge quantities of imported nroduco if storage cannot bo found for it, that a body of experts hns been charged with tho duty of devising immediately n scliemeHEor (ho abolition of control at the ond of this year or early in 1920. "Sir Joseph Broadbank, chairman of tho Dock and AVarehouse Committeo of tho Port of London Authority, said yesterday that 'the docks are overdone with meat, tea and fruit,' and that he views with some alarm the huge consignments of meat known to bo coming. "This meat is going to reach ns when we are already in a state of congestion, To-da.v nineteen ships with various cargoes, but mainly the three commodities I have named, are being detained in tho river because no berths are available. On top of .this congestion, during this month there are due to arrive in the United Kingdom 1.500,000 carcasses of mutton, of which the greater part will come to London. Our special meat accommodation is equal to that number of mutton carcasses, and ,it. is all full now, oxcept a warehouse that holds 100.000, nnd has been adapted "by the Government for tho second time for this purnose. Tt is a quay shed which ought not really to be W£d for this purpose." Food Control. Following is tho letter which was sent by Mr. Gilbert Anderson to the "Daily Mail":— "London. Dee. 2, 1019. "Dear Sir—Knowing the interest with which under the above heading are read in New Zealand, we take this opportunity of presenting the position of Now Zealand farmers and meat importers, and which you will see is an entire contradiction to the statement made in_ your paper of this morning. It was in March, 1915, from patriotic motives only, that New Zealand operators, through tliair Government, entered into an agreement with the Home authorities to sell their meat on a f.o.b. basis at tho following prices:—'Wethers, 'Hd. per lb.; ewes, id. per/lb.; lamb, s|d. ner lb.; prime ox beef. -tSd. per lb.; "This meat was eventually released by tho Imperial authorities at IOJd. per lb, whereas tho American meat "was being sold at Is. M. per lb., so that it is quite clear that the New Zealand growers, at that period, at any rate, made a bad bargain.

"Tho contract has been, renewed from tim,> to time, and in October, 101G, tho price? were reduced as follow:—'Wethers, 53d.: ewes, lid.; lambs, (Ud.; and prime oxbeef, sd. per lb., a slight allowance being mine for inferior qualities, the above being tho highest prices paid. These prices rule to-day, and the contract, unless renewed, expires in Juno, 1020. ■

"With reference to your statement re the Board of Trade entering into large contracts o-fter the armistice in the interest! of New Zealand farmers, tho public_ may be led to believe that this is quite a. new transaction, whereas tho old contract did not expire, being in force until the termination of the war. ar.d it was only in the early ]Wt of this, year that a definite date was fixed. Having purchased this meat, it was surely open for the _ Imperial authorities to take possession of same, and whilst the position as regards storage capacity is cortainly serious here, it is equi l .!.- so in New Zealand, and it is certainly in tho interests of New Zealand farmers that tho Ministry should elenr tho stocks before tho contract expires "It may interest your readers to know the position as regards stocks, which is as follows (here follows a list of the stocks of meat held in New Zealand in November last):—

p;res "It may interest your readers to know the position as regards stocks, which is as follows (here follows a list of the slocks of meat held in New Zealand in November last):— "Early this year there were G,1100,0C0 carcases ts 'be lifted, and yon cannot therefore consider it unreasonable for the New Zealanders to clamour for this to bo cleared during the currency of tho contract. The freight lias been entirely in tho hands of the Imperial authorities, and whatever the position is to-day it is absolutely due to their handling, although it must not be forgotten that war contingencies had a great influence on the position. "Prices.—Hero again you stale that the consumer .i's denied the price advantage of the glut; tho excessive priee3 aro caused by the high rates tho Government has to pay respectively to the New Zealand and English meat producers. "I'n' November, I'JU, when the market was free, meat was selling on Smithfield at the following rates:— New Zealand. Canterbury lamb ... G'd. per lb. Canterbury mullon... lid. per lb. Canterbury beef Gd. per lb. Home Killed. Lamb GSd. to Sd. per .lb. Mutton 7-! d. lo Sd. per lb. Beef G}d. lo 7Jd. per lb. To-d»y's selling prices are:— New Zealand. Wethers, owes 'and lambs 101 d. per lb. Beof Is. per lb. Home Killed. AVellicrs, ewes and lambs Is. i!3d. per lb. Beef Is. 3d. per lb. "We must leave it to you to draw your own. fldnc.lusi.ons as to whether your statement re New Zealand being paid high prices is correct. A comparison with those being paid lo the. Homo farmers will, we think, clear your mind on this point."