MARKETING OF PRODUCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1921, Page 5

MARKETING OF PRODUCE.

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. THE MEAT MARKET. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Oct. 27. Several questions regarding the condl. tions under which New Zealand meat and other produce are marketed in London were addressed to the Prime Minister yesterday. Mr. W. S. Glenn (Rangitikei) asked whether the Government would give members the opportunity of discussing the desirability of grading our meat for export. This course was already being taken with butter, cheese and flax. He had noticed a complaint recently from an important London firm handling our produce of marks on New Zealand meat. This appeared to be a fitting time for the members to be given an opportunity of discussing the matter, and a discussion would be most useful. < Mr. Massey said that he had noticed \ the cablegrams of complaint to which reference had been made. He had no objection to giving the House an opportunity of dismissing the proposal raised. He had this suggestion to make, however, that the question should be referred to the Agricultural and StoSk Committee, which could have evidence taken. Then when the jjeport was presented to the House the members I would have a chance of discussing the issue and expressing an opinion upon it. Dr. 11. T. J. Thacker (Christchurch East), asked the Prime Minister if he , had noticed a published interview with I a recent visitor tQ England who had inspected the Smithfield meat market, and had expressed regret that the New Zea- ! land meat sold there was sold by priv- ( ate contract instead of being auctioned. A butcher had complained of the quality of the New Zealand meat, contrasting it with chilled beef from the Argentine. He had blamed the Imperial Government for having kept it so long in store. Dr. Thacker asked if it was possible that some distinctive mark could be placed on all New Zealand meat now being shipped, so that the identification could not be removed. The trouble was that good meat was suffering because it was confused with stock that had been [n store for perhaps two years. Mr. Massey said that he believed that the statements made in the interview, if descriptive of the conditions some time back, were approximately correct. He referred to the time when our meat purchased by the Imperial Government was coming forward in competition with Argentine meat and our own new supplies. Dr. Thacker: There is an enormous quantity of it now. Mr. Massey said that he hoped to be able to give definite information on that point to-morrow. He had cabled Home to have inquiries made, and the reply should arrive to-day some time. Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne): It !s Vesty Bros, who are doing this. Mr. Massey said that old meat was being sold, and was suffering by contrast with Argentine supplies. But what were we to do about it? s Dr. Thacker: Give the old meat away to the starving people of Europe. Mr. Massey: But it is not our meat. It has all been bought and. paid for. He repeated that he hoped to be able to say when he received a reply to his inquiries that the trouble was over. A question put by Mr. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition) bore reference to the sale and identification ot various kinds of New Zealand produce in Britain. He asked whether the Prime Minister would state whether, in his opinion, the time had not arrived to set about re-establishing and helping forward the credit of our products on the Home markets by arranging for the sale of New Zealand produce, and that alone in privately rented, leased, or owned shops in London. It could- be Obtained from headquarters, and the public of London, and later of Manchester could have the opportunity of seeing our produce under the best possible conditions. He asked whether the Government would bring down proposals this session by which some capable business man could be sent to see that the best possible produce was handled and marketed to the best possible advantage for tills country. , , , , Mr. Massey said that he had already suggested to’ the High Commissioner that a list should be kept in Ins office of the shops selling New Zealand produce, and every opportunity taken ot advertising the fact so that the people who wanted New Zealand produce would have the chance of learning without any trouble where it was to be obtained. There were many who did want it, as he knew from inquiries made while be was in London. He had suggested since coming back that a sort bl board should'be set up representative of the producers, the Government and the business men, and that they should be given facilities lor marketing our produce in London. Mr. G. W. Forbes (Hurunui): Will you give them any power? ■ Mr. Massey: I will give them any power they want. Do not let there be anv mistake about that. I am anxious to do the best thing for this country. He had had the matter in view for some time, he concluded.