EUROPEAN MEAT MARKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19140, 5 October 1925, Page 7

EUROPEAN MEAT MARKET.

TAX ON IMPORTATIONS.

MICH TARIFF IN GERMANY.

[FROM our own correspondent.] LONDON. Aug. 26.

During the past few years the importation of frozen meat to the Continent has been steadily growing. Mutton has not been favoured, but a very fair supply of beef has gone, into Germany, Italy and France. Most of this was not of the highest quality, and thus Europe was developing into a much needed market for the frozen boneless beef which is not favoured in this country. Advices from Germany, however, point to the early passing of a tariff law designed to put a check on the imports of frozen meat into that country. Such a ■step is not surprising. The contemplated imposts of 45 marks per 100 kiios of frozen meat, or 22-5 d per lb., and 12s 9d per dozen 61b. tins of canned meat, and Is 7d per doz. lib. tins, constitute in the minds of Germany's agrarian governors a barrier which will effectually exclude the foreign article of food. It is tho working class of people of that country, and not the overseas meat industry, who will have to protest, but doubtless they are too well disciplined to do so. The fact that She communes will be allowed to import a certain quantity of meat duty free is a concession to this opinion. How long will it be before France follows suit? "We are inclined to think," says the Cold Storage and Produce Review, "that France is not yet quite ready to stop frozen meat at ner ports, though we may depend upon it that directly her agrarian interests consider that moment at hand they will force the Government to take the step. We shall probably find that an exception, perhaps only partial or temporary, will be made in the favour of French West African meat supplies. Italy may be a more faithful, if poorer, customer of Australia,, New Zealand and the rest." TAXATION AND BAD DEBTS.

RULING REGARDING REDUCTIONS

The Australian Associated Chambers of Commerce have addressed the Sydney Chamber of Commerce with reference to a ruling of the Federal Commissioner of Taxation in regard to bad debts. The department has advised that in the esse of debtors who are insolvent the irrecoverable part of a debt is deemed to be bad upon payment of the final dividend, and that it is proposed to disallow all amounts written off before the final dividend is paid, and to allow the irrecoverable loss upon payment of the final dividend. It is felt, that this determination is misound, and would prove unjust in practice and, moreover, would involve additional expense and trouble to taxpayers. After consultation with accountancy authorities the council of the Sydney Chamber has advised the president of the Associated Chambers that it is of opinion that the commissioner might reasonably accept the certificate of an official assignee or an official liquidator giving an estimate of the dividend which is likely to accrue to creditors.

THE FROZEN MEAT INDUSTRY. BRITISH IMPORTS TOR 1924. [from Ot'R OWN CORRESPONDENT.] LONDON, Aug. 28. The Board of Trade returns for last year show the amount of refrigerated produce imported into this country during 1924. There were 212,228 sheep carcases, 1,180,860 lambs and 559,229 quarters of beef from Australia; 1,984,165 sheep, 4,624,564 lambs and 230,953 quarters of beef from New Zealand; 2,746,216 sheep, 2,079,968 lambs and 6,374,179 quarters of beef from South America; and .135,089 sheep, 18,993 lambs and 1725 quarters of beef from other countries. The total value was over 47 millions sterling. Other refrigerated imports included frozen rabbits, poultry, game, butter, cheese and eggs to the value of 40 millions. Over 11,307,940 consignments of bananas, to the value of £5,500,628. were received. During the year 1,011,191 cattle and 589,107 sheep were also imported alive into this country, principally from the Irish Free vState. Their value was 22 millions sterling. At the London Central Markets last year 480,520 tons of meat and produce were received, this being the largest amount on record, and averaging 1900 tons daily. Of that quantity 21.8 per cent, was British and Irish, 46.8 per cent, was from Argentina, 18.9 per cent, from New Zealand, and 12.5 per cent, from Holland and other countries.

SALE OF WESTVIEW ESTATE. A sale of a well-known block of land subdivided into 78 building sections, will take place at the salerooms of Samuel Vaile and Sons, Ltd., 83, Queen Street, at. 7.30 this evening. This is the Westview Estate, at the junction of West-End and Garnet Roads, for many years owned by the Faulder family. The estate is within easy reach of both Heme Bay and Grey Lynn cars and is also close to the harbour. The district is one that has made great progress during the last few years and many improvements are in progress. Popular easy terms of payment are being offered.