NEW ZEALAND MEAT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13631, 28 June 1906, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND MEAT.

AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE.

WAR OFFICE CONTRACTS.

Press Association—Ey Telegraph—Copyright.

LONDON, June 27. (received June 27, at 9.12 p.m.)

air J. CI. Ward lias conferred with tho. leading importers in consequence of tho Hon. J. Carroll's telegram stating that there was a greatly- diminished demand for New Zealand tinned meats. Sir Joseph Ward suggests that the utmost publicity be given to the system of veterinary and factory inspection. Mr Weddel and Sir Montague Nelson assured the conference that the diminution in the demand is; not due to dissatisfaction with New Zealand's system, but that tho Chicago revelations had choked all demands. Meanwhile the sale of frozen meat lias greatly increased. Mr Gilbert Anderson (of the Christclmrch Meat Company) complained of the difficulty experienced in securing War Office contracts. (Received June 27, at 9.22 p.m.) The Hon. W. I', Reeves (High Commissioner) explained that the reason for the difficulty in securing War Office contracts was the higher prico of the New Zealand product, the War Office's practice being to accept tho lowest tender. lie sai-J lie would continue to make representations in regard to the better value of New Zealand meat.

Mr Winston Churchill, in reply to Mr William Redmond, explained that very careful inspection was made before stock was slaughtered iu Australasia, and ho was not aware of any complaint regarding tinned meat imports from there, He added that Lord Elgin recently, at New Zealand's instance, drew the attention of the various Government departments to tho fact that all frozen and tinned meats were subject in New Zealand to minute inspection, and stringent conditions were imposed by duly qualified inspectors.