Beyond The Dominion

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 174, 19 July 1909, Page 4

Beyond The Dominion

NEW ZEALAND MEAT. London, July 14. A meeting of New Zealand and Australian meat importers, Mr George Goodsir presiding, yesterday discussed the glut in tbe market, and the serious decline in prices. Without exacting individual pledges the meeting approved of the principle of abstaining experimentally for the next ten days from selling Canterbury mutton less than 361b under 4d; 361b to 421b under 3£d; and 421b to 501b under 3Jd, the prices for choice North Island and Southland shipments being set down at a farthing less in each grade. It is not believed that the fixtures will check sales. x Mr. Goodsir estimated that a million carcases were now stored. It was resolved to ask tbe New Zealand Government to undertake the systematic advertising of meat during the continuance of the glut, in the interests of the Dominion's trade.

London, July 15. Meat importers and agents state that the agreement arrived at to relieve the glut in the market and to regulate the prices is so far working smoothly. The inclement weather is the chief cause of the glut in lambs. As the market is over-supplied to the extent o! a million lambs and a million sheep, only fine weather will save the situation. The increase in prices was arranged because butchers feared the competition of stall street salesmen. Retailers are willing to pay the extra farthing in order to keep costermongers out. Mr Cameron. New Zealand Produce Commissioner, speaking at the meeting on behalf of Mr Hall-Jones, said that New Zealand was anxious to assist the trade and circularise largely with a view to pushing sales, but he doubted the advisability of spending £2OOO or £IO,OOO a year in advertising in the newspapers. In this connection it was suggested at the meeting that it would be unfair that New Zealand should bear the cost of advertising colonial meat, which would benefit Australia and the Argentine equally with New Zealand importers. In answer to this, it was stated that nine-tenths of the present stock of lambs came from New Zealand. INDIAN ANARCHY. Calcutta, July 14. Sir E. N. Baker, the LieutenantGovernor, addressing the Bengal Council, said there had been enough denunciation of outrages in India, and the time bad now come for more than talk. Unless the education authorities and parents actively co-operated with tbe Government, the solution of the difficulty would not come in a peaceful or painless way, nor would there be room then to discriminate between tbe innocent and tbe guilty. The speech produced a profound sensation.

UNIVERSAL TRAINING. London, July 14. The National Service Bill introduced to the House of Lords by Lord Roberts, does not provide the machinery for universal training. It is rather a reconnaissance in favour of the principles enunciated during the recent public discussions on the necessity for compulsory service. Lord Roberts himself described the Territorial army as a grand organisation, well designed, and his object was to fill in the framework which that structure affords. Under his scheme the country would no longer be dependant upon a force whose serious training was being deferred until after the declaration of war. He added that in this latter respect our military policy is wilful gambling on the country's safety. The Duke of Norfolk supported the Bill. He begged the Lords to take the lead on this subject. The Duke of Northumberland moved an amendment in favour of trusting to our present military advisers. Lord Lansdowne urged that there were overwhelming reasons for giving Mr Haldane's scheme a fair trial. He added that public opinion was not j yet ripe for compulsion. j The Earl of Crewe strongly opposed the Bill. The amendment was carried by 123 votes to 103. COAL MINERS' STRIKE. London, July 14. Eighty thousand Scottish miners will go on strike on the 26th inst., against the reduction of their wages by sixpence per day.