EXPORT OF MEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 October 1921, Page 5

EXPORT OF MEAT.

SHIPMENTS NOW IN BRITAIN. THE LATEST QUOTATIONS. PROBLEM OF HIGH FREIGHTS. By Telegraph Pre*’ Association Wellington, Last Night. In the House this afternoon the Premier read the following cable received from the High Commissioner in reply to his inquiry as to the quantity of New Zealand meat in Britain, and the prices obtained. The cable, which is dated October 25, says: Meat stocks. —In reference to your telegrams of October 21 and 22, official figures are not obtainable from the Board of Trade, but I understand on good authority that the Imperial Government stocks consist only of about 10 tons lamb and 20 tons sundries, which it is expected will be sold within about two weeks. During August the Imperial Government sold all ewes at 4id (see my produce cable of August 13 and August 20), and it is estimated that approximately 100,000 of those are still in store. I have learned to-day that they recently sold the balance of the wethers to the same firm at 4d in London and 31 d in the provinces, and it is estimated that 60,000 of these are still unsold.

Vestey’s beef.—No information obtained regarding the quantity remaining. The wholesale price of New Zealand is: Beef, best ox hinds 6d, fores 4}d; mutton, lightweight 6id, heavyweight sVid; ewes, 4%d; lambs, lightweight 9d, heavyweight Bd. The retail prices are: Mutton, legs 9d to lOd, loins 9d, shoulders iOd; lambs, legs, loins and shoulders, Is 3d; beef, sirloin Is 2d, wing Is 2d, rump steak Is Bd.

The Prime Minister also received the following cable, dated London, October 23, received from the British Incorporated Society of Meat Importers, who waited on him recently : "We wish to draw your particular attention to the freight problem, which, in our opinion, is the crux of the problem of the New Zealand meat trade. Freight from the Argentine has now been reduced to Id per lb, and anything materially in excess of this would be a serious handicap to the Australasian meat trade as a whole, and particularly to the producers. We think no time should be lost in getting to grips with the problem, and we respectfully submit that you should deal with this as promptly as possible.” In this connection Mr. Massey stated that be had summoned a committee of exporters and producers to consider the freight question on Friday.