Colonial Produce in England. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2251, 22 April 1897, Page 14

Colonial Produce in England. TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, — In your issue of December 31 last I see you reprint a letter J sent some months ago to m London daily on the subject of New Zealand produce in London. As there appears to be a little misconception about it, I wish to say that that letter was written not from the standpoint of a, British farmer, but of one who is trying to make a living by retailing New Zealand meat in London, and therefore interested in giving it * good name. The fact of your having published the letter in your columns is proof that it contained something which in your opinion would be of interest to some of jour readers, and leads me to think thafe perhaps a few words from me direct to you on the same subject may be of interest also. Both growers and sonBignors have for tome past been in a chronic state of growl at the pric?B obtained here, sometimes not without cause. Experts hnve, I believe, on one or two occasions been sent here to inquire into the causes for these low prices, and to make reports as to best way of improving matters, but so far nothing beneficial has resulted therefrom. Why ? Simply because these inquiries and observations were made in the wrong place — viz., among the wholesale people instead of the retailers. In this case demand governs prices, and .the retailer governs the demand. The meat is in the market: ; the retailer knows what he can make of it, and will only give as much for it as will leave him a fair margin of profit. If not supplied at that price he leaves ib alone.

As I mentioned above, I am trying to make a living by selling ifc here, but I can assure you it is a very hard uphill struggle. It is not so much first prejudice one hr.s so much troubls to get over — a little persuasion will often quickly effect a change ihcre, bul ib is disappointments and oftentimes disgust that have to be overcome — a very difficult, and in most cases impossible, task. Attempts to secure new customers are frequently meb by the answer : " Oh, I tried it once, but don't like it at all ; ifc is so tallowy"; or, "It shrink* so in cooking ; or, "It turns black when cooked " ; or, '• Ifc has buch a nasby smell whilst being cooked, and such a beastly twang with ifc when cooked." These and similar answers are an everyday experience, and are made by people who honestly believe they have given the much-tilked-of Canterbury meat a fair trial and found it wanting. Now, as the best Cauterbury and Otago sheep have none of these faults, what conclusion are we to come to ?

Then as to prices paid in Kmithfield for your stuff. To the British public as a whole frozen mir.ton and Canterbury mutton are synonymous terms. Cjrne from where it will, in their opiuion there is no difference in it. How then can those who make ifc a point to sell nothing but the best New Zealand brands give you," s&y, 4-d per lb for rau'tou aud SUI for lamb carcases, and compete successfully with others who sell the inferior meat from other parts as best Canterbury, snd which can be bought at from l-£d to 2d per lb less than the New Zealand article ? A few individuals find onfc the difference in the quality, but tbe majority never do. At present lam paying s^d per lb for best lanib», beside-: markets aud other expenses to geS them home, aud yet some of my opponents are selling legs irom what they call and sell as best Canterbury lcmb at 61 per lb, necks at from Id to 3d, and other joints at the same rates.

I think I have said quite enough, to indicate in what direction steps should be taken to secure for your senders the real value of their consignments hero. — I am, &s., F. Davys.

477 Green Lanes, Marriog&y, London N., March 3,