MEAT “HOLD-UP”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18350, 14 September 1921, Page 5

MEAT “HOLD-UP”

DOMINION AND “BIG FIVE.” ARMOURS’ ALLEGATIONS. CARCASES ROTTING IN CHRISTCHURCH. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, September 12. The Pall Mail Gazette gives prominence to what it describes as New Zealand’s “ hold-up ” of meat, and publishes details of a dispute between New Zealand and the “ Big Five,” based on statements made by Armours’ representatives. The Pall Mall Gazette says that several hundred thousand sheep and lambs are lying rotting in storehouses in Christchurch instead of being sent to the London markets.—A. and N.Z. Cable. The Pall Mall Gazette features a letter from and an interview with Armours’ London manager (Mr Cabell) alleging that one reason for the high meat prices in Great Britain is the New Zealand Government’s refusal to allow Armours’ to export sheep and lambs, and stating that possibly the New Zealand Government had been unduly influenced by middlemen who resented Armours’ competition, inducing an embargo on several hundred thousand carcases. The Pall Mall Gazette does not vouch for the accuracy of the statement, but adds that the explanation is plausible.' The article outlines the history of the United States Government’s intervention in the matter.—A. and £s T .Z. Cable. AN ABSURD STATEMENT. DENIAL BY ARMOURS’ MANAGER. NEW ZEALAND’S POSITION EXPLAINED. (Peb United Pukes Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, September 13. Referring to the Pall Mall Gazette's statement, as cabled, Mr W. I. Carney, of Armours’ (Ltd.), Australasia, gave an absolute denial to the statement that several hundred thousand carcases are lying rotting in New Zealand cold stores. As a matter of fact, about 550,000 carcases were in store in New Zealand, but these were only from the killing of the season just ended, and it would be ridiculous to say that in such a short time the frozen meat was perishing. This meat had accumulated in the freezing stores since the Minister of Customs, acting under the unrepealed provision of the War Regulations Act, had refused Armours a permit to export meat. Mr Carney said that ho hoped . when Mr Massey returned to New Zealand things would be straightened out to the satisfaction of everybody. A representative of a largo freezing company said that the cabled message was obviously absurd. As far as ho know, there were only 300,000 carcases in New Zealand cold storage, and when the exportations of frozen meat from Argentine were tn,kcn into consideration that amount would have no effect in reducing the meat prices in Great Britain. . WELLINGTON, September 13. Regarding the sensational meat “hold-up” cable, a pressman was informed that it was utterly absurd to sav that several hundred thousand carcases of sheep and lamb wore lying rotting in a Christchurch storehouse. All the meat was held in the freezing works in different parts of the dominion in good order. The statement was not in keeping with fact.! No doubt the Government had held up meat in New Zealand pending satisfactory arrangements being arrived at.