N.Z. MUTTON IN AMERICA.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160639, 4 May 1920, Page 9

N.Z. MUTTON IN AMERICA.

ALLEGED PROFITEERING. VANCOUVER, March 31. Surprise has been created in Western Canada at the disproportionately high price demanded by the retailers in the Dominion of New Zealand meat, which ia frequently unloaded from the Niagara and Makura.

While the mutton-, advanced several cents recently on the local markets of Bn«~ Columbia during the latter part of March, reports came to hand from New lork that the British Government was offering mutton on the American market for 13J cents per pound wholesale, against, .the prevailing price in that market of 24 cents. Cable orders for lamb were being accepted at 16£ cents per pound wholesale, against the prevailing price of 30 cents. It was explained that this was made possible by the fact that the British Government had experienced a glut in mutton from New Zealand, and much of this meat had to he diverted to the American market.

Within the space of two or three days 250,000 to 300,000 carcases of New Zealand lamb were sold to American buyers, and some cargoes of mutton pro? viously sold were on their way to New York from the Thames. Some of the shipments for New York were not being put aehore in England, but wore being transferred from New Zealand boats to American freighters while standing in the Thames.

As most of the meat were reported to be in prime condition, the cables were busy between America and London in an endeavour to get further shipments. According to information reaching Vancouver, it was estimated by the London port authorities in Great Britain that four months’ supply pf mutton was aboard the boats in the harbours, and more was on its way from New Zealand The new retail price of mutton in Great Britain is 9d.

It was urged in Vancouver that further surplus shipments of New Zealand meat might with advantage be routed to Canada, where a ready market always awaits the meat products from “down under.”

The consumers in Canada have frequently protested against the excessive prices demanded by retailers for New Zealand meat, considering the favourable circumstances under which the importers receive the meat. It has been contended by the purchasers that some extraordinary profiteering is being - practised in British Columbia, as the New Zealand mutton reaches as high a price as 45 cents a pound, and when the Makura was held up by a strike a few months ago, a well-known Canadian meat king rushed to Vancouver saying that he was determined to arrange matters so that the New Zealand meat might be unloaded from the Makura, “Otherwise,” he ludicrously, exclaimed, “the Canadian people will not get cheap mutton.”

This joke raised a tremendous guffaw all over the Dominion, as the price of New Zealand mutton as doubled from the time it is unloaded at the wharf until it reaches the consumer within a mile away.

Now that a co-operative society has been inaugurated in Vancouver, with branches springing np all over Western Canada, it is expected efforts will shortly be made to obtain some of the New Zealand mutton direct from Auckland for sale by the medium of the “co-ops,” where the consuming public will be guaranteed a price for ipeat considerably lower than the present outrageously high figure demanded by profiteering manipulators in Canada. It is admitted 'that Vancouver wholesalers are paying 20 cents per pound wholesale to a Vanconver mutton importing house for the mutton ex the Niagara. It is pointed out that mutton is landed in New York 35 per cent, cheaper than the same class of mutton can he brought directly to Vancouver from New Zealand for. If some enterprising New Zealand meat product firm could interpose and place New Zealand meat on the Canadian market cheaper, that firm will • halve plenty of scope for orders.—Star correspondent.