WAR AND FROZEN MEAT

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 19

WAR AND FROZEN MEAT

WILL NEW ZEALAND BE AFFECTED ?

APPREHENSIONS IN THE TRADE, (From Our Own Correspondent )

LONDON, April 13,

The Hon. T. Mackenzie has been appointed on the committee which is advising the Board of Trade as to how to dispose of the surplus New Zealand mutton and lamb over and above that required for army consumption. A double compliment was paid the High Commissioner in this matter. Not only did the London meat importers ask him if he would act on the committee, but also the Board of Trade wrote him in similar terms. The committee has had a preliminary meeting and has decided on what it considers the policy best calculated to cause the least disturbance in the meat trade. Further information is being sought on certain points, but whether the New Zealand meat trade will be injured or not remains to be seen.

OFFICIAL PRONOUNCEMENT WANTED.

Discussing this question, the Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company reports : —“ The end of eight months of war finds prices in the meat market at their highest, but it is remarkable testimony to the purchasing power of the country that these prices have proved practically no check on the demand. It is true there has been a general advance in wages in nearly all trades in order to meet the increased cost of commodities', and it is quite evident that the enormous sums of money put into circulation by the war are percolating through all classes. Six weeks ago the announcement was made of the action taken by the Government to secure control of all Australasian meat on shipment. No official pronouncement has yet been made as to the method in which the surplus not required by the Government

will be dealt with, and the Government cannot be accused of undue baste in relieving the apprehensions of the trade regarding their future supplies. It is, however, generally understood that nearly all Australian mutton and beef and lamb will probably be placed on the market for sale, and that all meat not required by the Government will reach the customary agents for sale. A committee consisting of the Agent-general for Queensland, the High’ Commissioner for New Zealand, and Sir Montague Nelson has been appointed to advise the Board of Trade, and trade interests will be safe in these hands. ' The increasing quantities which will be required to meet the demands of the British and French Governments render it unlikely that the public will experience any early reduction on the prises now ruling, as no increase in supplies for the trade can be looked for. At the same time the scarcity of refrigerated tonnage has hampered exports, and the March output, for the producing countries is extraordinarily small for the month.”

Mr A. D. Henderson, agent of the Now Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association, writes in his market letter : “ Little is known yet ns to how the Government commandeered meat is going to be dealt with on its arrival, and there is consequently much speculation as to how the market will be affected, but it does not appear at present that supplies are likely to be too plentiful.”