THE BANE OF THE MEAT TRADE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1165, 29 June 1894, Page 8

THE BANE OF THE MEAT TRADE.

According to the last report of Messrs Nelson Brothers, which we publish elsewhere, the bane of the trade is the keen competition amongst tho sellers, who display their solicitude for their clients, the consignors of meat, by competing with one another in the market of sale and refusing all suggestions to join in most necessary regulation. It will be said that Messrs Nelson Brothers are not the right people to take up that position, and it will be urged as a reason that their desire to regulate the trade by becoming the sole agents is notorious. The obvious reply, quite independent of the fact that Nelson Brothers have done more for the meat trade than any three firms in it, is that their statement is correct. The imperative necessity of the hour is to cure the bane of the trade, the bane which has lost one season, and is fast losing another, by lack of prudent regulation. In order to secure perfect regulation it is by no means necessary to give all the business to one firm. That kind of reasoning is, only good for the business of making cheap sneers. The agents can combine to prevent the evil of cheap meat, i.e., so long as the market is good for a good price, as we maintain it will be for many years. The growers should look to it.