DISTRIBUTION OF MEAT IN LONDON.

Otago Witness, Issue 3331, 16 January 1918, Page 11

DISTRIBUTION OF MEAT IN LONDON.

COMPLAINT BY NEW ZEALAND

PRODUCERS

THE OTHER SIDE O.F THE QUESTION. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, January 9. The cabled news that the Food Controller in England has interfered to disturb the existing arrangements for the distribution and sale of the meat from this country which is not required, is causing a little uneasiness in this country. No definite information has yet been obtained by the Government as to the extent of the interference of the Food Controller in the arrangements, which have previously been the concern of the Board of Trade. It is considered that if the existing agreement is not observed the New Zealand meat exporting companies will suffer by loss of all their trade connections. When the Imperial Government purchase was arranged it was well understood that there were certain classes of meat exported from this country which would not be used for the armies or for any war purpose, and that this meat would '. be released ' for sale to British consumers. It was agreed that in proportion to the amount of meat exported by any firm a share of the meat to bo sold should be handed over for distribution to the public through the agents of the exporters in this country. This has led to the soicalled "nomination" system, by which meat operators and buyjng companies in New Zealand have directed that any meat which they may be entitled to have released to them shall be handed over to persons nominated by them in London. The breaking of this arrangement will cause serious hardship to those New Zealand concerns which have been maintaining their own selling organisations in_ Britain. It seems that the existence of this agreement has been for 'the benefit of the_ New Zaland producers, but there is also evidence that it was carried out in such a way that it was not a' benefit to the British consumer. It has been observed as a fact that some operators in New Zealand, who have been nominating to firms at Home with big selling organisations, have been able to pay considerably more than the Government schedule prices for meat, ;such as lamb, which is certain to be released for sale in England. These operators have to resell every pound of their meat to 'the Government, but they have been able, so it has been said, to make this small loss because they would always make huge profits on the sale of )the meat in England. The New Zealand producer haSi benefited by these circumstances, in that he has often received for his stock, and especially for lamb, a better price than that offered by the Government on behalf of the Imperial Board, of Trade The first care of the Food Controller is presumably the welfare of the consumer in Britain, and he may be 'taking action to intercept some of the profits alleged to be made by the distributors of the meat already purchased by the Imperial Government in the countries of origin.