COLONIAL AGRICULTURAIL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2437, 28 November 1900, Page 8

COLONIAL AGRICULTURAI L TOPICS.

(Fkoji Otjb, Own Cobrespoxdent.'i LONDON, October 12. ■~- " New Zealand is now discussing seriously the question whether, in exporting huge quantities of frozen meat, she is not (to make an Irish bull) killing the goose that lays the golden eggs," remarks a city paper, which proceeds: — "Upon this point there seems to be a unanimous opinion among the flock owners that no country cotild stand the depletion which has been going on. In 1899 1,238,925 carcases of Canterbury lamb were exported from the colony, while in the some year 2,011,175 carcas.es of mutton were shipped. New Zealand slaughtered 'in 1699 no fewer than 3,250,100 animals out of its flocka to help to feed the world, while Australia, its near neighbour and 'competitor, exported in I the same year only 253.500. Those who have eaten Canterbury lamb (and most people who dine in tho city have eaten it whether they know it or not), have been struck witli the delicacy of its flavour. It v^as the high character of tlie export which has sent the New Zealand frozen meat trade iip by leaps ?nd I bounds, but this wholesale slaughter of the innocents cannot go on for ever." TVith reference to the same subject, another city paper observe! : — "An amusing discii" sion has been lately going on in ihe New Zealand Parliament regarding fie profits | made by the "Wellington meat-companies. Relying, -possibly, upoii. the advanced character of the Government's legislation^ a. member j proposed to introduce a Meat Export Comi panics' Limitation of Profits Bill. There was a discussion, in which some extraordinary ' statements were made. One M.H.R. staled that sheep worth 19s in Christchurch only fetched 8s in TVairarapa, and by some queer reasoning he charged this to the Wellington j companies. But Mr Lewis told him flia-t if I that state of things exists, his constituents ' nvust be idiots ; and, having regard to the reI presentative of the bald constituents, lie wa? I not prepared to dispute the statement. Mr Scddon was against the companies, and agreed to a committee being appointed." "Tae statement has been made,'' proceeds the same writer, " that the policy of 'New Zealand is calculated to drive capital out of the colony, but no one who realises what a iarosperous, highly-enlightened, and social community inhabits the colony can attach much sinister import to the citum. But Mr Se-ddon will meet with not an atom of support from his sympathisers on this side if he advocates any such measure as the one referred to: The New Zealand meat companies enjoy no monopoly of any kind ; anyone is open to start an opposition show, and if the companies make profits it is by fair, if smart, trading. If the sheep farmers in the Wellington districts do not get good prices for their stock, why don't they ship them, to Christchurch? And if the Stale is going to limit profits, it should also undertake to limit losses." An Anglo-colonial journal says: — "There is taking place just now an upward movement in meat prices, and agents here, acting tinder authority from New Zealand shippers, have 'been holding up prices, somewhat <to the annoyance of buyeTS. Shipments for the next three months will be on a reduced scale, and shippers knowing this naturally desire to secure a rise in values as early as possible. Retailers will soon have to make up theiv minds to pay enhanced prices, but for the moment they rebel. So market prices t>r< under ex-ship values. Prices for fat stock ir New Zealand for some time have been afo normally high. Something like a general rise in retail meat prices may be expected — the buteher3 in some parts of the country have already taken this step. I hear that Messrs Hill have notified their regular customers that their restaurant prices are to. be con siderably raised, on account of tho rise' in the wholesile, prices of meat. The importation of pork from New Zealand on a commercial scale is recorded — two recently-arrived vessels had some 200 odd carcases on board. As pork is scarce and dear here this season, the colonia l article has fetched good prices."