A FROZEN MEAT EXPERT.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 503, 16 August 1902, Page 2

A FROZEN MEAT EXPERT.

The Wellington Free Lance has the following article concerning the suggestion of Mr Moore (who sent the letter about daggers, etc., to the ActingPremier) :

Ml- F. T. Moore, the alleged expert on the frozen meat question, engaged by the Government to report upon the meat trade of the colony, has, it is reported, sent in his conclusions to the Government, but the naturo of his suggestions are not as yet made public. If Mr Moore’s official reports arc on a par with his proposal to the chairman of the recently-formod Bleat Producers’ Association, they will furnish humorous reading for members of Parliament interested in the subject. Blr Moore proposes that the Association should act as “ brokers ” for farmors and Home c.i.f. buyers. This is so delightfully simplo.that the marvel is that it has . been left for Blr Blooro to discover it. Now, it will be freely admitted that Blr Blooro, from his long connection with the Wellington Bleat .Export Company, knows something obout the method of killing sheep and cattle, and the class of fat stock required for freezing industry. Still, this experience does not qualify Blr Bloore to deal with the marketing of frozen meat, but he apporently thinks differently, and he must now be accepted as an expert, being a Gevernment officer. New Zealand produces more experts to the square mile than any other country on the globe. A year or two ago the land was deluged with mining experts, and now meat and trade experts fill the vacancies, and are ready to advise individuals, associations, and even whole nations, at a pinch. Supposing the farmers adopt Mr Bloore’s very clever suggestion, and appoint tho Bleat Producers’ Association as “ brokers,” will the farmers be any better off than now ? Tho brokers will want a brokerage, the freezing companies will still have a profit without any risks, and the farmers will in the end be paying two profits where they are now paying one. Then, again, will the Home buyers prefer dealing with an association which will be financially .weak rather than with the meat companies with whom they have had business relations for years, and in whom they have entire confidence. The more the meat industry is canvassed by the so-called experts, the better and stronger appears to be the position of the meat companies. Tho. fact is that farmers are being paid full rates for thenfat stock—local prices being ruled by London quotations. The Bleat Producers’ Association cannot, and will not, get better prices than are offered to the freezing companies, and cannot work on as close a margin as the latter. Even supposing the Meat Producers’ Association is able to handle the business offered by c.i.f. buyers, what is to become of the fat stock over and above that required to satisfy these special buyers ? The best services any person —expert or otherwise—can do to the farmers is to show them how to increase production, and reduce the cost of producing. In that lies the secret of future success. Trying to artificially force up prices is merely beating the air, and is profitless.