MEAT MARKET.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 12, 15 January 1912, Page 6

MEAT MARKET.

NEW ZEALAND'S EXPORTS

THE TRUST NOT FEARED

"I have never wavered in''the opinion i that there will always be found a remunerative market for our meat," said Mr M. C. Orbell, chairman of. directors, at the annual meeting of the British-New Zealand Meat and Produce Company at.Christ church on Wednesday. "We have become accustomed to yfehe perennial ory of the last twenty years, namely, that Australia; would, flood the market, and that South America will bring down prices to a, non-payable point, and at the present time some argue that the Beef Thust is going to be our ruin. Ido not believe a word of ' it. I think that with regard to.the Trust there is a good deal of misconception, and a disposition to forget that it has been operating upon the British market for a great maiiy years with live cattle from the United States. This supply^ having failed about five years ago ittransferred its business to South America,, and has had to export frozen and chilled meat in its stead. BUSINESS IN BEEF. "When we learn that in 1910 the. total import of beef (including live cattle) into the United Kingdom from North and South America combined was, according to the C.C. and D. annual report, one and a half million hundred-weight less than \it was in 1906, it does not look as if the Trust was largely increasing its^business in beef. It, however, has become more conspicuous and apparent to us in consequence of the change from live cattle to that of frozen and chilled meat, which comes into competition with our own._ The crux of the question is: Has it been instrumental in reducing the value of the frozen article? Turn up your reports, and during the last five years you will find that the fluctuations with regard to beef have been normal. HIGHER LEVEL MARKET.. "With respect to the mutton and lamb market, we are led to believe that the Trust has had its buying agents in Australia and New Zealand for a considerable time, and also in South America, where jit has freezing works. But can we accuse it of ■reducing prices of mutton or lamb when we know that for the last two years the market has been on a.highev level than .before we heard so much of its operations? I am disposed to believe that the value of meat is no more influenced by the Trust than by the London speculator. Indeed, I believe the latter is more often the predominant factor in 'bearing' the market from selfish motives. The probability of the Trust interfering with our business, I think, is very remote. There are too many outside buyers, and if it has its buying agents, it increases the competition and stock-owners benefit. As to its acquiring our freezing works, that, I think, is still more remote. DEMAND AND SUPPLY*.

"South America we find is increasing its lamb output, and will probably continue to do_ no; but the quality is very inferior and snows little sign, of improvement. Notwithstanding the pessimistic cry to which I have referred, prices for mutton and lamb are higher than they were twenty years ago, when the import of frozen moat into the United Kingdom was incomparably small compared with that of the present day. It may surprise some of you to learn that during 1910 the imports were thirteen million carcases, and five years earlier, 1906, eight millions and three-quarters, an increase of 50 per Spent, during this period.

The year 1910 proved to be the bestyear ever experienced for the ease with which, the demand met the supply. Surely this is sufficient to justify us in taking a bright instead of a gloomy view of the future of our meat trade, especially when the thin end of the wedge has entered the Continent. Already Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland and' Portugal—the latter having, removed its import duty., and Switzerland reduced its by 60 per cent.—are all admitting limited quantities; and I am glad to note -" that Australia this season has sent shipments to Genoa. It indicates that public opinion is rapidly ripening for larger importations. NEW ZEALAND QUALITY. "We must recognise that New Zealand, on account of its higher quality, will not participate in the supply to the same extent as other countries, but the opening of the various ports will relieve the English market and confer a benefit upon all exporters of meat. I am astonished that no serious local effort has been made to get these markets opened earlier. I am aware that a few spasmodic efforts have been made, but it seems to me that the initiation! should come from the Australasian people, because it is not to be expected that London is go-' inpc to exert itself in search of a bidder for its own trade. I think there is evidence that the agrarian interest in Germany will be considerably weakened by the elections, which commence next week. The prevailing unrest among the industrial classes throughout the Continent, and their demand for cheaper food, equal in importance to higher wages, will have its influence upon-the elections. Is it in human nature not to rebel when their neighbors can obtain food at less than half the cost they can? The circumstaaices are such that no Government, however strong, can resist the j list demands of the people much longer."