OUR MEAT ABROAD

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1924, Page 8

OUR MEAT ABROAD

PRODUCER’S OPINION. BOOM ON THE CONTINENT A WARNING NOTE. '•There is no question,” said Mr. X E. Jessep, vice-chairman of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, who returned to Wellington thie week from an extended trip abroad, “that the demand for frozen meat is steadily increasing. This is evidenced by t‘he ever-increasing shipments of frozen beef from the Argentine to the Continent. lit wants only a general revival of trade to lead to a large increase in the consumption of meat on the Continent, and that revival of trade seems to be very near. The material wealth of the Central European countries is clearly sho”*jt4Mt all sides by the wonderful crops and the manufacturing activity to be seen on all hands. The people work long hours; the land is rich, the natural resources of the countries are great. The only factors lacking are credit facilities, and, aw we know, these are now being arranged in all the countries referred to, including Germany. In fact, it looks to mo as if a trade boom on the Continent if imminent.” THE CARRIAGE CONTRACT. As to the new contract made witlb the shipping companies with respect to ■the carriage of refrigerated produce, Mr. Je-ssep said: “I consider iit was very wise in the interests of the Dominion to make a contract for the next threa years. The prices arranged place the Dominion in a comparatively rather bet* ter position than we occupied in prei war days—that is, as compared with the Argentine, our main competitor. ‘T am strongly of the opinion thafi we should concentrate on the efficiency; and .the regularity of the shipping service from New Zealand to England now. A fast and regular service can only be carried out by .shipping fleets able t<» thoroughly cope with the trade, and it is of paramount importance that we should do everything we possibly can to reduce the time, between New Zealand and her markets.

“This can be done by giving the shipping companies a contract for three years—thus enabling the companies to make their plans to provide vessels for this trade which will cut down the time. I hope to see the time reduiced to thirty days from Wellington to London, via Panama. GOOD PRICES EXPECTED. “Everything points to very gooA prices for New Zealand produce for some time to come; and, if I may venture to give a word of advice to my fellow-farmers in the Dominion, it would be this —now is their time to reduce their liabilities and own their own farms. We are enjoying an era of prosperity undreamlt of by our fathers, and if we use the opportunity rigMtly, tha whole farming community of New Zealand can get into a position in which they will not be troubling so much abut the price of money. The outlook is decidedly good; but even high prices may bo dangerous if people arc rarrjpd. away with them.

■'lf the high prices of wool, meat, and dairy produce lead to over-specula-tion, and not to strengthening their position, the result may not be so beneficial to the producers as they should be. It is to be hoped that the lesson of the past few years will not be forgotten.” Mr. Jessep said that there has been a very marked improvement in tlie handling of meat on the wharves in London since he was in England two years ago. He pointed out, also, that the increased imports of frozen beef to the Continent meant a better London markert for New Zealand .produce.