FROZEN MEAT PRICES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11800, 11 September 1916, Page 3

FROZEN MEAT PRICES.

IN LONDON AND IN DOMINION. A-SIIBFRTON A. AND P. ASSOCIA- ; TIOX TAKES ACTION. MR JOHN GRIGG TO INQUIRE. Ab the. meeting of the General Committee of tho Asliburtou Agricultural nud Pastoral Association on Saturday the president (Mr J. Bruce) referred to tho prieo of frozen meat in London and expressed the opinion that tho association should take some action in tho matter. He had recently seen letters in which it was shown that tho farmers wero setting only sjd per lb for their frozen lamb in Loudon while it was being retailed at as high a j figure as Is 8d per lb, a position ol affair;, which was decidedly uusatisfaoj tory. If the New Zealand Government or the Imperial Government was ! getting tho advantage of tho latter i price the position would not be po bad, bul the big profits were going into the hands of speculators and there was 'something decidedly wrong somewhere. It was true that the present freights wero hifih, but the bidi freights would not tnako all the difference between ojd and Is Sd per lb, and ho was of opinion that tho New Zealand producers wero not now getting fair valMe for their frozeu lamb. Mr T. Bullock said that it was generally known that New Zealand lamb was iiovr being sold in England at much below its value and what the farmer shor Id get for it. Ho thought that it would bo a good suggestion for tho various 'agricultural and pastoral associations to take, tho question up and agree to send two well-known and reliable farmers to London to look thoroughly into tho matter and obtain evidence direct from headquarters. He thought that tho High Commissioner, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, bad his hands too full at the present time to attend thoroughly to the meat question and if two reliable farmers were sent Home end spent a month in Loudon. they would have time to go thoroughly into the matter. He would suggest, and in fact would move, to tho effect that Mr John Grigg, who was now at Home, should bo written to and tusked to go into tho matter. Mr J. Cow said he thought it would net bo much go«d in writing to Mr Grigg, as tho Prime Minister, when he visiter! London, wa3 going" thoroughly into tho question. Mr I>. G. Wright expressed tho opinion that the Homo Board of Trade should be communicated with. The president said that it would be a good thing to appoint a small committee to watch the matter of the frozen meat prices. Mr Bullock's motion wa*s seconded by Mr J. Shearer and carried. On the motion of Mr F. Frampton, seconded by Mr D. G. Wright, it was decided to communicate with tho Government asking that caro be taken to se.') that the faTmera got a fair price for their frozen meat nest season and that the Prime Minister should bb thanked for what he. had. already done in the matter.