The Waikato Times With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1923. FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15273, 25 June 1923, Page 4

The Waikato Times With which is Incorporated The Waikato Argus. MONDAY, JUNE 25, 1923. FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

1 Senor H. Bidone, the ConsulGene ral in New Zealand for the Argeni tine Republic, recently made a suggestion that Argentina and New Zealand should be more brothers-in-arms ! against the operations of meat combines, than rivals in th# meat trade. This, he alleged, would be the more possible because Argentina exports chiefly beef, and this Dominion chiefly mutton. This suggestion is dealt with editorially in the current issue of Meat and Wool, which points out that the Argentine Consul-General's suggestion is less altruistic than it appears on the surface. In the same issue is also published an article containing comments by the meat companies doing business in Argentina upon the situation there, which makes it plain that the matter of British Imperial preference is one of grave concern to the meat trade in the Republic; and further, that there is'no intention to neglect any opportunity of improving ana extending Argentina's trade in mutton and lamb. Commenting upon the meat companies' statement and .Senor Bidone's suggestion, Meat and Wool says that the big thing for New Zealand in the statement is the general attitude of the Argentine in the meat trade. The meat trade, it adds, is obviously the one big thing that counts in Argentine commerce. The ambition of the. Argentine producer is stated in so many words to be "the conquest of the markets of the world." The Argentine producer correctly regards the English market as "the most important free market, to the preservation of which, the greatest care and prudence should be directed, since the colonies are on the alert to take advantage of our errors." Many statesmen .and merchants, though admitting the desirability of preference for colonial meat, have questioned its practicability, but the authors of the statement referred to have no such doubts. Their view is that "British statesmen look with sympathy on a Customs agreement 'whereby Britain would grant a definite protection to the meat and other products from the colonies. If to better the economic situation they have to consume frozen instead of chilled beef they will not hesitate to do so. They have borne greater sacrifices, and we shall be wise to exercise all diligence that the experiment be not made." Dealing with the "brothers-in-arms" suggestion of the Argentine Consul-General, Meat and Wool is frankly timid of "the giftbearing Creeks." Senor Bidone's naive suggestion, it says, was of course inspired by the Argentine authorities, and is easily explained in view of the fears expressed in Argentina of the coming Empire preference. It is rather a neat attempt to dispose of a movement which, as the Argentine companies point out, will be a grave blow to the South American meat trade. In fact Argentina, through its Consul, promotes itself to the dignity of one of the Imperial brotherhood. The attempt to "unite the New Zealand and Argentine producers against trusts and combines, as brothers in arms against a common enemy," is described as clever by Meat and Wool, which adds: "The New Zealand Meat Board will look after 'the common enemy' as far as this Dominion is concerned, and it is really too much, even for the producer, to believe that the Argentine Republic has sent its representative all the way to New Zealand to help the poor oppressed farmer against the trusts. In fact we must regard the Argentine representative's statement as part of the propaganda that is just beginning against preference for colonial meat. Once wo get that, in whatever form, there is no need to fear for the beef industry of this country." Mention is ' also made of the Consul's omission to ' point out that South America's lamb ! production is increasing by leaps and bounds, and the Argentine is after that < market, as every other. The battle 1 of markets, Meat and Wool considers ' is only .just beginning, and the first step by foreign competitors is to keep , England an open market; and the ap- ! peal to the awesome name of "meat I trust" and "common aims" is the y beginning of a movement to combat ' the imperial preference idea which is j at last taking shape. As a final word ( it is pointed out that Argentina is ' developing the Continental, particularly ' German, market ready for the time when New Zealand and Australian [ meat will have preference in Great r Britain. The Argentine is Mew Zea- % land's trade competitor, and the corn- a petition is likely to be ke«u. I '.