NEW ZEALAND MEAT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11512, 7 October 1915, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND MEAT.

" DISPOSAL IN BRITAIN. INTERESTING STATEMENTS. [Per Pf.ess Association.] WELLINGTON, October (i. la reference to the statements which Iwvc been circulated in various parts oi : tho Dominion 1o tho effect that quantities of our froze ij meat were falling into the hands of Loudon speculators, tho Prime Minister tl)is afternoon. stated in tho Houso of Representatives that ho had communicated with tho High Commissioner and received the following reply, dated. October 4 : "With reference to your telegrams of 14th, 22nd and. 29th September, and further to my telegram of the 23rd September on tho .subject of meat speculators deriving unreasonable profits, I havo continued to make inquiries with a view to amplifying the information contained in my telegram of the 23rd September, tho result of which shows that tho following is tho position: "All New Zealand meat is being sold by agents nominated by tho respective New Zealand .shippers. Every one of these agents lias entered into an agreement pledging themselves to the Bo;ird of Trade to sell only to distributors and retailers. Tho agents furnish to the British Government buyers' names and prices realised regularly on a proper form provided for this purpose. All these selling agents' returns are open for inspection. lam advised that tho British Government is .satisfied that, nil tho agents are acting ill good faith and that no unreasonable profits arc being made. "The.ro has been practically no change in the prices of New Zealand meat during the last four or fivo months, and agents report that the stops taken to eliminate speculators havo been completely successful. Tho prices at which tho British Government is selling New Zealand meat are published weekly, and bona tide buyers can obtain supplies at tho prices quoted direct from New Zealand shippers' agents, who are celling meat for the British Government without the. intervention of third parties. " Soiling agents meet tho Board of Trado from time to time to report progress and to arrange the best way of effectively distributing tho quantities available for trade, and also the btot way of conserving and maintaining tho trade in the interests of New Zealand until normal conditions havo been restored. ''Sir Thomas Robinson has no interete so far as I am awaro in. any meat transactions here." Willi regard to the Imperial Government meat supply, tho Prime Minister made the following further .statement: (1) Sinco the inception of tho scheme (i.e.', March 3 last) tho following shipments of meat on behalf of tho imperial Government have been made:— 293,71)6 quarters beef. 1.859,239 carcases mutton, 2,711,865 carcases lamb. 02) Fifty-two steamers: hare been employed in the carriage of this, of which twenty-nine havo arrived at their destination, sixteen are now en route and seven are at present on the loading berth in the Dominion. (3) The payments to date exceed five millions sterling, actually £'0,001,290 lis sd, 'representing purchases in the various districts as follow* :• - i' .1. Aiicliln rd .. . . niB.Kl T "2 JI Poverty I'.av . . t,>1.897 0 « HawiicV liav . . 412,713 {» .1 Tara-naia . . . !7!>,2R{ t. h "VVr.llingfon . . . J,-270,(M6 V 3 H Marlbor<;ueii . . 29,905 It •'! Xcl'»ou . . . 296 19 11. Cirntc.r'.jurv . . . MtVSOfr} 14 .■> Qtagv> . ' . . . 3 41.347 1!» !> j Total . ..tt.oM.awn :> I C 4-) Payment for shipment-? is made I Oil production of the necessary docn- | merits to tho offierr in charge Imperial | Government M.eat Supply Branch, Wellington, and for th-e convenience of shippers arrangements nco .entered into with the banks to permit the negotiation of <1 raits on that branch free of exchange in Hie ease of those siiipp'-'rs desiring to deal directly with the officer in charge, and a,s a.n niternative method of payment an jirran.gcnient is in forc-e whereby the fr"«»ing , companies way forward dominants d : rect to Wellington. with an intimation of th.<* clients to whom payment, ts desired, when cheques rnado payable free of exchange at any bank indicated sro posted to the clients nnmM. "Payments are invariably made within '■ twenty-four hours of receipt of dociimeius. (o) The n;e;i.' in store; at the inee]>tion of lho whoiue amounted to ] .383,7*1 tiOll) carcass. This rose to 2,181,059 6011> carcases on .July 3 last, but at the present t'me then-, aro only approximately 000.000 in .store, and with the insulated tonnage in view there, will be no difficulty in lifting tin's ) prior to tho arrival oi tho new sf>a-| son's slock. At least fight of the. | ■freezing stores aro cwiptv at the present. moment. Tho tonnage now in j sight should prove .ample for the Do- j minion's requirements to the end of | tho present, year.