MEAT TRADE MENCED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17234, 9 August 1919, Page 10

MEAT TRADE MENCED.

'• Gommn m the south. \ , '"■■'' v ''. |Oa?»RT9 TO VISIT EKO^^Pt.; [n; TEiKORAm-HJWH caaußSfOHOEwr,! • MARfON, Friday. , Farmers in the Wellington- praV&'Wal? district, as-well as in other parts . of : the Forth Island, are greatly alarmed at febft-j serious danger which threatens the meat industry of the Dominion, owing to "tj»e i want of insulated shinning. With ft #9* ; j of discussing the petition a special meeting I of the executive of the Farmers' Un{on„| was hold at Marten, there being delegates j present from ail parts of the province, at ■ i well-as up the Main Trnnk line. " ' ' Mr. Hugh Bnrrell, chairman of Ilia Federated Freezing Companies and chairI man of directors of the Feilding Farmers' ; Freezing Company, movsd : " "Phai in 1 view of tho serious position likely to ariia tat the conclusion of the Imperial com* niandeer of New Zealand meat 4 as set out . in a statement recently prepared and pub[Jigfced by Mr. W. Poison, the cooperation [of the farmers' freezing companies Us Now ! Zealand is earnestly requested to bring | pressure to bear on the Government to set {up a committee of expert producer* jfamiiiar with the meat business, both from the fanners' and freezing companies* I point of view, to proceed to England to i investigate the position at Homo, arid, if possible, to arrange for the future did&iI ution of our meat." Speaking to bis motion, Mr. Burrell said that the position was gradually growing j worse. They had been told from time j to time to expect mora insulated boats to ; lift the meat in store, fast they had nofc come. Mr. pokon gave 800.000 carcases as tLe amount that should be lifted j» July, whereas the actual amount was; 415,000. He contended that something' had to be done quickly, otherwise the producers were faced with a great calamity and would be practically driven light into the arms of the American Trust. Such a disaster would reflect on the New Zealand trade. Pooling System OondenjaefS. Mr. W. Poison, of Wanganulj, who is Regarded as one ol the best aetbpriW* m pew Zealand on the meat question, fed. pressed the meetint;. He said that in the [first place he could not agree with the suggestion that everything possible bad been done at this end, He believed the liriperial authorities were in fair sympathy with the New Zealand .producers and would meet them half-wa? rf they had *|ie position properly explained to them by men who knew what they '.ittlkto* about-. As the result of pooling the meat at the cither end. New Zealand meat at 7d and 8d per lb had to compete with American moat which cost Is &d. - This* aspect had not been sufficiently impressed on the Imperial authorities. They 1 bad been hammering away at the "wrong end of the stick," asking for more ships. Mr." r son expressed himself as being strongly i used to the commandeer for another twelve months, as it would only prolong the agony, and, in any case, it was stuitf fying those concerns which wore genuinely anxious to develop the European markets for the sale of meat. , Juaexicac Competition. Sir, Poison said one very geriougit4i^j|fat' was that the Americans had their aye on the meat business, and their opoortunity was 'combe. Certain offs|oot» of 4fe Meat Trust were forming new branch**, and companies. One had a capital el £33,000.000, and another a capita! of 220,000.00!!}. They were out to expoit tila European markets, and particularly CfeeutBritain. With that prospect before them the freezing companies would he - very chary about buying msat. Posstfey they might take it into store for the tanner asjo bold it at his risk, charging hlra storage until they could:ehipit* Then-the, fanner would have to go to the binkei* and it would not be known what the meat ■would be worth in twelve month's. Consequently the banks would be difiinoliped to make any advances on meaty The '.Americans would then come along and say, ** We have the money. Se'l your meat and you can have the caeb to-moiTOiv." would the farmers do? WHh their '■&, per ence of farmers, what would the answer bo—the trust would be operating at both ends if steps were not taken. Tno Bhole question was very complex," 'and' seded a lot of consideration. . The solution was to go Home to -headquarters and put the cose fairly and effectively before the Imperial authorities. Mr. Poison concluded a, telling speech' by referring to certain personal observations he had made is Queensland in i respect to the harmful results of the i American Meat Trust. A long discussion followed, in which farmers were united in the on'nion that something should be done promptly. The resolution was carried, and a deputation I was appointed to proceed to We'lirgton ;to represent the matter to the Govern-! [ merit. j