FROZEN MEAT AT HOME

Gisborne Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6318, 22 February 1922, Page 5

FROZEN MEAT AT HOME

BRITISH MARKET IN DEPLOR-

ABLE CONDITION

CHILLED ARGENTINE FORCED

.ON BRITAIN

WHY MUTTON AND LAMB ADVANCED.

(United. Press Association—Copyright LONDON, Feb. 20.

Interviewed by a representative of the Australian Press Association, Mr Edmund Jowett said that while the markets for frozen mutton and lamb had made a- splendid recovery, the markets for Australian and New Zealand beef were in a deplorable position. Chilled Argentine was selling freely at .very low prices, but best Australasian is almost unsaleable. The difference between prices (English fresh beef up to 9i|d and Australian 34) is astounding. The great rise in mutton was due to the sudden discovery, early in January, that the enormous stocks of i\ew Zealand mutton, accumulated during and after the war, had practically disappeared. This seems amazing, but is confirmed on every hand, though no adequate statistics are regularly ‘ available regarding the stocks of frozen meat in stores in Britain. When the stores were emptied of mutton and lamb there was no great source of supply. Argentina is almost- a negligible factor in lamb, and not so serious a competitor in mutton as beef. Plence the great rise in tiie price of mutton and lamb, but there is no such) con-, solution for producers who are owners of frozen beef, which is exposed to the fiercest competition. Argentine chilled beef, of which there were enormous supplies, was being forced upon Britain, continued Mr Jowett. Australia’s distance from Europe made it impossible to specialise in chilled meat, as Argentina didi Australia’s adverse position was aggravated by the great accumulation of old beef bought by V estey Bros, in 1920 at a high price, but they had resolved to dispose of it, even at. a loss. They hold 150,000 quarters of old or stale frozen beef. ‘‘The knowledge that this must be- sold, either at Home or abroad.” lie states, “has a v w j depressing effect on all frozen beef, but ,T would advise graziers in Australia not to abandon hope, and above all not to make forward sales based on the present low prices in London. The depression is largely due to temporary causes. Old stocks must be worked off sooner or later ; also, there is a huge fight for control going on between two great sections of Argentine chilled and beef importers, Humanly speaking, these groups cannot fight indefinitely. They must sooner or later come to an understanding, and it mav then be found that stocks of old' frozen beef have disappeared. Recovery in prices may then take place. Nobody cares to advise for fear of misleading, but against pessimists, who are prominent, I submit that there are I rays of hope that before long the position will materially improve. We know for certainty that the present low prices have considerably increased _ consumption. # Unfortunately it is chilled, not frozen beef, that is most affected.”—A. and N.Z.C.A.

STR JAMES ALLEN ADDRESSES EXPERTS.

APPEAL TO BUTCHERS FOR HONESTY IN NAME.

(Received Feb. 21, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 20. Sir James Allen, addressing the Union of London Retail Meat Trades on the New Zealand meat trade said it was unfair that owing to accumulation of stocks in London bad meat had been sold to consumers which was damaging to the reputation of the imported article., He explained what New Zealand was doing to improve export arrangements and appealed to London butchers to sell New Zealand meat as such. There must he a more rapid retuni of ships from England, improved handling and better methods of treating meat at Smithfield and more hygienic conditions of transporting it to shops and treatment there.—A. and N-Z.0.A,.