Distribution of Frozen Meat.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 16, 6 August 1895, Page 2

Distribution of Frozen Meat.

» There was a crowded meeting of sheep farmers at Napier last night) lasting over four hourp, to hear the addresses on the meat trade from Mr D. J. Nathan and Mr W. Nelson. After Mr Nathan had explained his aoheme Mr Nelson replied at great length. He contended that the proposed sch»me and Government guarantee was quite unnecessary, as he proposed opening shops in the provinces at Home, maintaining that Eastinan's and Nelson and Sons' thousand frozen meat shops and the other two thousand butchers who sold frozen meat were bettor vehiolea for the distribution of the meat. He denied that the low prices were due to want of storage accommodation. In London alone, four months' supply could be stored, and there were many stores in the provinces. He quoted detailed figures to show that the meat was well distributed all over the provinces, and ridiculed the idea of a Smithfield ring, contending that if their combination wore strong enough to reeulate prices it would not be confined to the 3DOOor 5000 tons of frozen mutton sold every month while 2000 tons of fresh meat \yerp sold at high prices. The relatively better price of New Zealand lamb was also quoted as negativing the idea of there being a ring. He thoroughly agreed with M r Nathan that concentration and combination in London was the sole colution of the present disorganised Btate of the market, but stated that now that had been effected under the new Co-operative Distribution Company juet formed in London to deal with the whole of the consignments from Australia. Mr Nathan, in answering, said that while Mr Nelson had condemned all bis premises be ww driven to the same conclusions!