MEAT FOR SOUTH AFRICA

New Zealand Mail, 29 January 1902, Page 33

MEAT FOR SOUTH AFRICA

BRISBANE, January 27. The Queensland Premier (Hon. R. Philp) disagrees with Mr Seddon over the manner in which the meat contracts for the army were allotted, and that they were due to the influence of capitalists interested in the Argentine. Mr Philp believes that if the conditions were equal, Australia would have got the preference. It appears that Australian firms only undertook to deliver meat at the ports in South Africa, whereas the syndicate will carry it tothe various centres inland.

ridicules the idea that meat could not be. Australia has plenty of beef and mutton available. It is expected that Queensland will get a share of the contracts taken by the syndicate, as one of the largest Queensland firm's is a member of the syndicate. NAPIER, January 27. At a special committee meeting of the Napier Chamber of Commerce, held to-day, to consider the Premier’s attitude with regard to the War Office meat contracts, the following resolution was unanimously passed, “ That this Chamber strongly approves the Premier’s action in protesting against the placing of contracts for the supply of frozen meat for the army in South Africa with Argentine freezing companies, and expresses the opinion that New Zealand and the Australian Commonwealth, forming integral parts of the British Empire, can supply whatever meats are required of superior quality. This chamber is further of opinion that the colonies have not received sufficient time and opportunity for tendering for the contracts in question.” The secretary was instructed to wire a copy of the resolution to the Premier and the principal Chambers of Commerce in the colony. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondents.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 27. A member of “The Press” staff has been interviewing the representatives of the local freezing companies regarding the supply of frozen meat to South Africa. In the course of his remarks, Mr Gilbert Anderson, of the Christchurch Meat Company, stated that the reason why the New Zealand meat companies did not care to go in for the tender was that there was no certainty of getting the meat landed in South Africa.. The two shipping companies had been trying to establish trad® with the Cape, but the difficulties they had to contend with, and the fact that no bonus was offered by the Government, did not make them keen. His company sold one shipment cf meat for South Africa, which gave general satisfaction, and the order was repeated, but the shipment was carried on to London, as the steamer was unable to land the meat in South Africa. He considered the Government should give the shipping company a bonus on every ton of frozen meat landed in South Africa. As to whether New Zealand could compete with River Plate meat of lower quality, Mr Anderson said: “It must be remembered that the South African people were not all beggars, and that there is a very large section who will be ready to buy the best. The idea that is prevalent now was dinned into my ears when I went Home as to the North of England people, but I found it entirely fallacious. They would rather buy good North Canterbury meat in place of the lower-priced and lower-class Argentine meat.”

Mr Waymouth, of the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, stated that the companies in Canterbury who supplied the best quality of frozen meat and lamb which is imported into England could not expect to be able to cater for South Africa, where quality was not so much recognised. It must not he forgotten, he added, that the present demand m South Africa for meat is only temporary —it is not the demand of a settled population, but that of an army which may be away at an early date. Such being tho case, he thought it would be better to conserve the market we bad and where we were known. In addition to this, we should always bear in mind that the chief source of competition as against New Zealand meat in the English market was from those countries which supply the lower qualities. He believed it would pay New Zealand to offer every inducement to get the lower qualities of meat off the London market, because what pulled down prices was the excessive competition with the lower qualities from the Argentine. If a diversion of the Argentine meat from the London market to South Africa could be accomplished it would allow New Zealand meat to get a better footing in London.