REGULATING MEAT PRICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14231, 30 November 1909, Page 7

REGULATING MEAT PRICES.

SURPLUS BEEF SUPPLY.

AN ASSOCIATION FORMED.

The advisability of forming an association to protect, the interests of graziers and stockbreeders of the Auckland province was submitted to a meeting at the office of the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association yesterday morning. There was an attendance of over 30 representative farmers and graziers from the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, North of Auckland, and other parts of the province.

The President of the A. and P. Association (Mr. Isaac Gray), who presided, explained that the movement had keen originated by the Waikato Farmers' Club and a/ number of prominent settlers in the province. It was suggested that an association of this kind might keep a register of the graziers and breeders who were members of .the association and a record of all fat stock held by them from time to time, keep in touch with the Home and colonial fat stock markets, and, if necessary, lake steps to steady the meat market by exporting surplus stock, or by the adoption of any other means calculated to prevent the local markets falling below remunerative prices. The speaker said that the unusually ■ low prices which had been ruling for fat stock, and particularly for beef, during the past 12 months called for a remedy. This, he thought, would be as plain as A, B, C, if the suggested association was formed. While something like 65,000 head of cattle per year were consumed in the Auckland province, the maximum average price ruling for the 12 months past did not probably exceed. £1 per 1001b. Was this, he asked, a fair return? He recognised the difficulties of organising the farmers throughout a country like New Zealand, but he hoped that within the next 12 months a state of unity would be brought about for their general betterment. (Applause.) Mr. Robert Fisher, president of the Waikato Farmers' Club, moved, " That a provincial graziers and breeders' association be, formed for the purpose of disposing of the surplus fat stock produced in the Auckland province, thereby controlling the market in any way that they may consider desirable, and that the association have power to co-operate with any similar association formed in the Dominion."

_ Mr. Richard Reynolds, Cambridge, considered it was only by placing themselves in a position to control the surplus stocks that they would be enabled to get a fair price in the local market. Someone was needed to watch their interests by keeping in touch with the Home market and seeing that prices at the local sales never went below export rates. (Hear, hear.) They were not fighting anyone, but simply looking to their own interests. Mr. John Allen, Waingaro, said a small increase in the price of meat would not be felt much by the public, but it would be of considerable importance to the farmers, who, as a class, spent the whole of their earnings for the benefit of the district at large. Mr. S. J. Ambury, Auckland, repudiated any suggestion on the part of producers to. aim at controlling the stock market. They only aimed at providing satisfactory facilities for disposing of their surplus stock. (Hear, hear.) He suggested that all reference to controlling the market should be deleted from the motion. The association should turn its attention to all stock, apart from dealing with the surplus.' ... Mr. Fisher agreed to alter the motion to this effect.

Mr. J. Knight, president of the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association, remarked that whereas a few years ago Auckland consumers were obliged to go outside the province for meat supplies, the wonderful development which had taken place in the province had caused the supply to greatly exceed the demand, and it would be -necessary to maintain the export trade, lest a glut should occur. Mr. Joseph Barugb, Waikato, managing director of the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company, informed the meeting'that the shipment of chilled beef would probably be commenced from Auckland shortly, as had been successfully done from Australia recently. By this means the price of beef should be raised by £d per pound, which would bring the return to the producers up to 24s per 1001b. (Applause.) The amended motion was carried with applause,' and, on the motion of Mr. Fisher, it was agreed that all present contribute one guinea as the nucleus of a fund to carry on the operations of the association. "■''",•'.'"■ , .. The consideration of working regulations was delegated to a special committee, and the following were elected a provisional committee:—Messrs. I. Gray, Robert Fisher, Muir, R. A. Bent, J. E. Makgill, H. A. Gill, John -Ambury, J. B. Cow, Wintle, A. Hall, J- J. Swaffield, John Knight, James Ambury, and Richard Reynolds. ■ , , . „ „ Mr. Gray was elected chairman of the committee. ,