FARMERS' UNION

Evening Star, Issue 18628, 8 May 1924, Page 11

FARMERS' UNION

MEETING OF DOMINION EXECUTIVE LAMB RECOVERS. [Pm United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Alay 7. At the meeting of the Dominion Executive of the Fanners’ Union information received from the Aleat Producers’ Board relating to the recent activities of the board stated that tbo latest information from the London managey respecting the recent, set-back in lamb prices was as follows:—“Up to the time of the strike tho lamb market appeared to bo fairly_ firm, and during the strike a fair quantity of lamb wns disposed of owing to the fact that it was impossible to obtain any supplies of chilled beef. On the cessation of tho strike., however, hold-up shipments of chiliad beef simply flooded the market at Smithfield, which slumped very badly. Most of the retailers laid in heavy stocks of chilled beef, upon which they are making fine profits, and no doubt pushed the beef against tho lamb. The demand for lamb has been very disappointing during tho last month, as the weather is still cold, and this no doubt has affected tho sale of lamb,” Tho last cabled advice from the London manager, dated Alay 2, says: " the lamb, market is now strong, with » good demand.” It was hoped that with the enormous number of visitors expected in London for the. Exhibition a greater demand for New Zealand lamb would be created, more particularly as the lamb season usually commenced about Easter, the board s London manager had co-operated with the High Commissioner in bringing pressure nn the present Government to get it to insist uuoti slocks of refrigerated meat, held in cold stores being published monthly, as was done in America and elsewhere.' Tbo board was now receiving from its London office regular reports by the inspector who was appointed recently to watch the unloading of vessels at the other end. The presence of this officer already had led to better handling, and through his reports the board had been able 1o institute several improvements. The oliicor also attended surveys for damage, and thus was in a position to locate where the damage occurred. Five members' of Parliament—Messrs Al’Lcod, Sykes, Masters, Eansome, and Macphcrson—attended, and after a short discussion in committee they agreed to meet the wishes of tho executive to .watch the legislation affecting the farmers’ interests" as a non-party committee. 'Fhe. Minister of Agriculture wrote that he could not hold out any hope, that charges for the inspection of bonedust would be. borne by the Consolidated Fund. The Aleat Industry Board advised that arrangements for sending a single carcass of lamb to any address in Great Britain were still in operation. The scheme had not met with remarkable, success, and tho hoard was now receiving from the London office regular reports' by the inspector appointed to watch the unloading of vessels at Home.

Attention was drawn by the hoard_ to the selling of inferior lamb as a New Zealand product, and that prosecutions had been ordered.