THE MEAT CONTRACTS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7374, 28 January 1902, Page 2

THE MEAT CONTRACTS.

PRESS SYMPATHY WITH THE COLONIES.

Received January 28, 9.48 a.m. I London, January 27. The Standard, sympathising with tho colonies in regard to meat contracts, urges them to await the War Office's statement. It hopes the Government will not be influenced by any small attempt at economy, but possibly thinks of the future, and tho Argentine is required to pile up tho necessary stores. The Chronicle says the Right Hon. J. Chamberlain is businesslike, and inclined to favor tho colonies to tho utmost. If the charges aro true there is an unseon reason which prevents tho War Office securing the total quantities of meat required in Australasia. The Daily News, in a leading article headed "Colonial Tyranny," says the War Office is bound to procure the best food for the troops in South Africa, in the shortest time, and at the smallest cost. In a commercial sense, tho colonies have no claim.

The President of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr Halliwell) to-day reoeived the following wire from the Premier : -" I have received the following wire: RighcHon. the Premier, Wellington— Tho following resolution was unanimously passed at a special meeting of the Napier Chamber of Commerce to-day : That this Chamber strongly approves the Premier's action in protesting against the placing of contracts for the supply of frozen meat for the army in South Africa with the Argentine freezing -companies, and expresses the opinion that Now Zealand and the Australian Commonwealth, forming integral parts of the British Empire, are in a position to supply whatever meat 3 are required, of superior quality. This Chamber is further of opinion that the colonies have not received sufficient time and opportunity for tendering for the contracts in question. "