THE MEAT GLUT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18007, 6 August 1920, Page 6

THE MEAT GLUT

AMERICAN TRADE. HIGH RESTAURANT CHAHGES, (Fbou Ode Own Cobukspondeht.) LONDON, Juno 10. bir nomas Mackenzie, 111 a. conversation relative to the Government's decision not to extend tho purchase contract lor Now Zealand moat tor another year, said ho agreed with Mr Massey's computations, for JlO thought that, including tho moat on hand Ait this end, that in store in Now Zealand, and that afloat to this country, tlioro would bo between 4,000,000 and i>,000,000 carcases to dispose of at the end of the yea*. This was after allowing for the sale of 3,000,000 carcases of lainb to America and a quarter of a million to tho Continent. Ho also concurred in tho hope Mr Massey expressed that tho Home authorities would not insist on New Zealand keeping all tho meat killed after Juno 30 until that owned by tlio Imperial Government was disposed of. . "We recognise," said the Hi'sh Commissioner, "the difficulties which have been experienced by tho authorities in providing shipping, but, at tho same time, had tho Imperial Government faced the position earlier and cut their losses, tho congestion would not havo been nearly so great as it is. As for the disposal of New Zealand lamb to America, while I regret that our most delicate' and choice article of food should havo to go past this country, there is no doubt that tho step marks the opening of what will probably prove to bo a profitable market for our produce. I should much have preferred an arrangement under which America would take a similar quantity of our mutton, and so relieved tho United Kingdom market. Given tho necessary watchful activity, I think the future prospects for the sale of our moat in the Homo market are distinctly good. Lamb should continue to return to the producers the rates now current, oven, if mutton should weaken a little." USING THE PANAMA CANAL.

"Tho opening of the Panama Canal," ha added, "is beginning to be felt much moro strongly in the trado relationships between tho United States and New Zealand. Both imports and exports haVe doubled in recent years, and if the latter continue to increase as in the caso of lamb, this will probably lead to return purchases of goods in ths United States. Mr Massey is strong on the point of not allowing the American trust to gain a footing in, tho dominion, and with that view I am in complete agreement." Sir Thomas Mackenzie pointed out that tiie shipping people hoped to be able to provide sufficient space to lift 10 million carcases annually, as against the seven million now produced, and he trusted that they would bo able to give earlv effect to that promise. J3o expressed appreciation of tho way the Board of Trade had endeavo,iF?V, to °°Pe with the situation. at ■ Cardiff last week ho learned that therp was room for a cargo of frozen °? hls , ret .wn to London he found in thfl °f i y undischarged ship I" h ¥ been . ordered by the Board r? lff ' whe J.° aW 1,000,000 carcases ?lL H° n ■? ro ls P°spd of every year, but n e l r S Sa -o ™° y llave fac ilities for 2,mm t0 3 ' oo0 ' 000 «*-

CATERERS' PROFITS. . is stated at th© Ministry of Food tintsince the wholesale cost of imported mutton was reduced, and control was removed from • pnces > , the consumption of the meat , lncre; «d to a considerable extent Meai importers, however, are inclined to take the view that, while there has been in increased distribution, the consumption h™ Some of the m ,£ for «SS£r, .od 1 off£ tho still on'havt^ caterer t«mes i" 19 wh , ere the 25?;™"? £»>» ends extensively. Thev kv» • : st end, and leavo fL PS • j rODl cncl <® »< a. 9 S? on ,h ? S&afCosT toi S srtf; tarr l °^ s A. 3 : fc srAe7if f a !r° n ' 0 » f r«r fS-yrt ia«cf dSr 1 ? if they reduced their charges this u-nnlJ i tent-amount to an admission that thev used miKtr at 'i and disillusioned customs might then no longer order mutton.