MEAT FOR BRITAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16375, 1 November 1916, Page 8

MEAT FOR BRITAIN.

THE NEW ARRANGEMENT.

PRICES CONSIDERED FAIR.

DrscTTsstNG the proposed new arrangement I with the Imperial Government for the ! purchase of New Zealand frozen meat, Mr. ' A. A. Ross, president of the Auckland ! provincial branch of the New, Zealand Far- J mere' Union, stated yesterday that it was '' an error to suppose that the producers of the Dominion had expressed dissatisfaction with the prices they had been receiving. They had made no complaint on that score, although those prices had been a good deal lower than the market rates. '\One cause of complaint on the part of i the New Zealand farmers," said Mr. Ross, j "is that the Imperial Government has i 1 been selling all the New Zealand meat not required for military purposes to I middlemen at what it cost, plus expenses, j That is a good deal less than the market i rates in the Old Country, and the balance goes to the middlemen. The Imperial Board of Trade takes the attitude that it has bought the meat and that the producer here has no more say in the matter, j We differ, contending that we are supply- I ing the meat at less than the market i rates, and, therefore, to a certain extent, I look upon it as a gift to the Imperial Gov- j eminent for Imperial purposes. Instead of that it is giving it away to the middle- ! men. My idea is that the Imperial Gov- ' eminent should sell the surplus New Zea- ! land meat on its own account at market \ rates, and then the whole benefit would go i to the public purse. Tho Imperial Government has so far, however, declined to 1 alter its procedure." Another cause of complaint had been, said Mr. Ross, that the prices paid to I New Zealand were lower than those paid for Australian meat. The prices in the I new agreement, if it were ratified, would, j however, adjust the matter. Under it the prices proposed, as compared with those feeing paid to Australia, were as follows :— New Zealand. Australia. Per lb. Per lb. d. d. Beef ... ... 6 41 Lamb ... ... 6 7-18 61 Mutton, best wother... 5f 6t Ewes ... ... 41 5 In connection with lamb the price for New Zealand, 6 7-16 d, was for one year's supply. It was proposed to make" this 6id, however, if for the period of the war. Mr. Ross said he considered the new prices to be very fair.