MEAT EXPORT CONTROL

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11408, 3 January 1923, Page 3

MEAT EXPORT CONTROL

CONDITIONS IN LONDON MB FIGHT ON BEHALF OF FARMERS. "A HARD NUT TO CRACK." (Auckland “Herald’s” Correspondent,) LONDON, Nsvemher 24. “He has been a very ' hard iiut to crack. We have made very little impression on him, and. we have tried our utmost. Very few men could have done and would havo done what he has. - ' These words were used by .one of the shipping managers in summing up the work of Mr/J. S. Jessep, who ns leaving this country to-moi row' after. a most strenuous fight in the interests of the farmers of New Zealand. ' . Among other things • Mr Jessep has shown the necessity for/an influential representative of farmers interests in London —that is, a representative who is not in any way connected with the Government. Such a representative speaking and acting for the producers as a whole is capable of doing a very great amount of good along sound business lines. Whether he would lose his real power if anything in the nature of dictatorship or control were attempted is a question which Mr Jessep is how in a position to discuss with the other members'of the board.' PRESENT CHARGES TOO HIGH. “Since fixing up the contract with the shipping companies,” he said, “which absorbed much more attention in England than I anticipated, I have had' time to devote to the question of organisation. I am impressed with the necessity of building up an organisation here on sound trainees lines which will he permanent and- of real value. I have been constantly at work in connection with the Port of London Authority charges. I have had numerous interviews with the P.L.A., end I have impressed upon them veiy emphatically that the New’ Zealand Board, as representing the sheep farmers are not prepared to continue paying the present charges, and that failing- a reduction wo would have to consider the advisableness of making our own arrangements in connection with frozen produce and wool, and of concentrating. I am led to believe that I havo impressed the P.L.A., who, I understand are to reconsider this question at once. It is probable that a further reduction will be heard of before very long. , “Whatever may he the opinion Jbeld by-Various interests concerning the formation of the New Zealand Meat Board it is beyond question that the sheep farmers in both New Zealand and Australia have so far benefited by its organisation, and one cannot blind himself to rho fact ihat the very strong positiou occupied by the board' has been a very potent factor in bringing about she deductions in freight." Some of Mr Jessep's later work has been with the port authorities of Bristol, Cardiff, Liverpool, and Manchester. "I have been tiying to get all those interested," he said, "to concentrate upon

bringing < about some regular service .to the West Coast ports, so that two ships will not be vrloading in. the same week or as is the case sometimes on the same day.' The idea is to get the vessels trading with the West Coast, ports evenly distributed over the months during which the cargoes are most required. The object to be obtained is to bring into line the interests of the ports and of the importers. lam strongly of the opinion that regularity of serviced will do a very* great deal to stimulate shipment and incideually to increase consumption in these centres.” MR JESSEP’S MOVEMENTS. Mr Jessep is joining the Aquitania at Southampton, and, his final work in this country will be at that port. He has made arrangements.to meet the general manager of the International Cold Stor. age Company, the manager of the Lon don and South 'Western ' Railway Com. pany, and the heads of several large firms interested in the importation of fruit. He will discuss .the Importation of fruit and meat, and railway and landing charges as pertaining; to Southampton. In addition he will be shown some of the storage and dock facilities. He will spend' about three weeks in America consulting with the meat men of Now York, Chicago and Boston. Mr Jessep has recently been approached by the manager of the Union Bank of Canada, and he proposes to visit Winnipeg and look into the prospects of business being done from the West Coast for a certain distance from Vancouver. He will sail from Vancouver by the’-Makura on December 22nd.