PRICE OF MEAT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14118, 12 May 1920, Page 5

PRICE OF MEAT.

FALL HAD TO COME. The Rrime Minister discussed the price of meat, interestingly last evening with a Wellington pressman. “L knew a drop in the price had to come, ’’ he said, “judging by the enormous. quantities in store in Britain and on the way there. Like many others, I cannot help thinking there has been a very great deal of mismanagement in England, particularly iu the handling of meat.

“Everyone knows that the people of Central Europe would be very glad to have whatever surplus might be available, but with the unrest which prevails there it is apparently almost impossible to provide properly for the requirements of the population.

“ The 1 markets for our produce are limited to Britain, and, perhaps, the United States. Whether we can do much business with the latter country remains to be seen. The meat trusts dont’ appeal to many of the producers ‘in this country, and I thinjc they have everv reason to be careful.

“What the position will be in six months from now so far as the meat supplies of Britain are - concerned, it is almost impossible to say. Just at present the outlook for shipping from New Zealand is good, there being no less than thirty ships'in sight, but even, with this number, and others to follow, it is almost certain there will be a large quantity of meat in lour cold stores when next season commences, about the eml of the,year.

■ “The Imperial Government will make a very, serious loss by the reduction which is announced, though as against that'they: made a good profit during the most of 1918 on our meat and Australian meat.

‘ • For some time past I have been unable to get any definite statement from the Board of Traffe or;the Food Control Department with regard totheir intentions in the way 'of assisting us to avoid confusion and inconvciiience by having qualities of Imperial, owed meat in store after the! end of 1920. * »

■ “There is no reason to be pessimistic with regard to the ' future, but what has happened, and is happening, along with the drop in the price of wool which is announced to-day, is another indication that we cannotMepend upon the very good prices which we received for our products during tHe war period continuing indefinitely.”