MEAT AND BUTTER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19584, 8 June 1926, Page 9

MEAT AND BUTTER

THE HOME MARKETS SIBERIA AND ARGENTINE OPPOSITION. REVIEW BY MR. A. HARRIS. Mr. A. Harris continued his review of conditions in the Old Country at the conclusion of last night’s meeting of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Harris said that in reviewing the position of the butter markets it was necessary to take a retrospective view of matters. In the year 1866, Prussit took possession of SchleswigHolstein, and many of the people, not desiring to be ruled by a foreign Government, retreated to inferior land. They spent £6,000,000 in a great enterprise to fertilise the land. As a consequence of their efforts, the Danish people had built up a great market, and for many years their butter had occupied the first position on the markets of the world. The Dominion was concerned in the scientific methods of enriching the land because in latter years it had greatly developed the production of butter and could boast of the largest butter association under one co-op-eration in the world.

Siberia’s Advantage. When it was considered that ten countries were supplying the Home market with dairy produce—including Siberia— it would be realised that Now Zealand was up against a tough proposition. The greatest competitor to fear, in his opinion, was Siberia, which could produce and land butter on the market for lOd lb. German capital had invaded this country and introduced into it up-to-date machinery on the time-pay-ment system. The people in England, he added, had been engineered by the vested interests, and efforts to protect Empire goods, and suggestions of control from New Zealand, were persistently vetoed. The Danes practically

sold their but cor f.0.b., and if there was a surplus of butter supplies machinery was put in operation to divert the surplus to channels other than the British markets. Mr. Harris considered the Dominion must fosten and market its products in the best markets, and this could be done by proper control. Touching on the, question of the meat trade, he said that it would take £10,600,000 to equip shops in opposition to the Argentine meat shops in England. It was during the war that Now Zealand largely lost control of the markets. It was then that all the retail shops were supplied with allotments of American meat, while New Zealand produce lay in storage. From that time onwards, New Zealand certainly lost control of the markets. It may be possible that something could be done if the Government subsidised a line of motor ships which collected chilled produce at one point and arrived on the market in the time allowed under chilling conditions. Ships of this description would be a big factor in overcoming the relative distances between South America ; nd Australia, and New Zealand. Auctions at Smithfield. Mr. Harris explained that there were 4000 meat shops in London, and the j Smithfield markets had a capacity of ’4OOO tons of produce a day. He went on to explain the method employed by the vested interests to dispose of the surplus of chilled meat at the end of the week—the meat being cut up and auctioned. This was how they got rid of the chilled meat which, although it did not keep as ■well, was of better appearance than the frozen product. All the shops had Canterbury iamb, but the trouble was when one asked for it, another line of lamb was pointed out which was 3d less. The handicap that New Zealand was labouring under could be well imagined when the salesmen were pushing Argentine lamb in this manner. The Dominion would have to look into matters, and under control something would have to bo done to protect the producers’ interests. He . did not think it possible to compete ! with the, retail shops at present in ex- | istcnce in London, but the controlling authorities should develop new markets outside of London to get rid of their surplus supplies. In conclusion, Mr. Harri/s dealt with the present coal crisis in England. He suggested that New Zealand should cmmark on a new departure in regard to the system of trading. They should deal with any country that was willing to deal with them on the lines of reciprocity.