BRITISH MEAT TRADE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16211, 23 August 1923, Page 3

BRITISH MEAT TRADE.

RINGS AT AUCTION SALES

FIRM THAT CONTROLS 2400 SHOPS.

tilec. Tel Copyright-United'Press Assn Australian and N.Z. Cable Association! .LONDON( Aug. 21. Lord Linlithgow's committee's report, tabled yesterday, says also:—"We note .me importing organisation, with a capital of nearly £9,000,000, recently announced its control of about twenty-four lUudted retail shops, depots and market italls throughout the country.. These Jevclopments seem to us to' make it advisable that tho ramifications of large importing houses should be kept under constant; observation. Tim interests of tho Home producer and the consumer demand that the control of the distribu-

tion of home-killed meat should riot pass into the hands- of importers. In the interests of both producers and consumers, it is desirable that information as to the stocks of meat in store from time to time should be given to the general public. We recommend legislation should be introduced making it; compulsory that cold storage proprietors should furnish periodical .statistics, showing the 'otal quantities of meat of various kinds oft hand. These statistics should regularly bo published by the Government lepartment concerned." .

"The suggestion lias been made)to as," continues the report, ''that in order to stabilise prices oyer a long period and nrcyent exaggerated fluctuation, aft Imperial Meat Corporation should be established in co-operation with the Dominion lovernments, to control the importation and marketing of frozen meat supplies from Imperial sources.' Such co-opera-tion would guarantee, prices for a. number of years to overseasi producers, It would control the cold storage from this country and the refrigerating works in 'ho Dominions, and would buy from hon - Empire countries at world prices from time to time, only such supplies as-were needed to make up deficiencies in British requirements. The Home producer, it ig claimed, would benefit by a steady market, and the Home consumer by the elimination of price fluctuations, which in the long run are always detrimental to his interests.

"These and similar developments >ratse questions of policy, which it would be beyond our function to discuss in detail. There are, however, certain factors in the present, situation which must have an increasing effect upon the meat industry, and which, iti may be helpful to bring together in the present report for consideration. Tho policy now adopted in unison by the British and Dominion Parliaments and supported largely by State funds, aims at greatly increased British settlement overseas,' and therefore greatly increases the output of foodstuffs re-marketed in the United Kingdom. • At the same time it is regarded as essential to maintain, and even expand, the proportion of British food needs which can be met from the British homelands, always subject to the necessity of cheap and ample supplies for tho people in these islands. This dual oolicy is in part the outcome of the demand which arose during and after the war for more reliability in; the supplies of the necessaries of life. If means lould" bo found to co-ordinate production within the Empire as a whole, and entourage it in a spirit of give and take as affecting foodstuffs generally, it might be possible to regularise supplies 'and prices both here and overseas with benefit to all. ; '

[ "The question which arises whether ' >he aims which are now being left to drift into divergence, perhaps into economic antagonism, could be harmonised in a way that would make the interests of this country and Dominions complementary to one another. The British peoples hero and overseas should bo ablo to discuss such matters with friendly frankness and with greater prospects of i-esults than would be possible between nations that have nr similar means of intercourse. TJi'o difficulties are obvious, and tihey could be solved only after patient, careful discussion between all concerned, but the issue is of highest national and Imperial importance and is being'forced by events upon public attention." «» LONDON. Aug. 22. Lord Linlithgow's committee's report dealing With moat says there- was evidence that butchers and dealers frequently formed "rings" at auction sales. This stifles competition, and is detrimental to the producer and trade generally. Dealers and auctioneers should endeavor to stop the practice. Evidence showed that imported fresh, chilled, and frozen meat is being sold as home produced, which is an obvious fraud on tho Public. It is desirable that means be devised to mark effectively either imported or home-grown meat, or'both. The consumer lias a right lb know what he is buying. Tho greater part of the retailer's profit comes from imported meat, which i s facilitated by the fact that the ioints are smaller and. belter suited to tho consumers' needs.