THE MEAT TRADE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2562, 24 July 1909, Page 2

THE MEAT TRADE.

FALL IN PRICES. QUESTION OF INSURANCE. The Hon. T. Mackenzie, who has had a wide experience in connection with the frozen meat trade, supplied some interesting information to a “Lyttelton Times” reporter. He said that he did not know what alterations , had taken place in regard to assessment for damages and “not up to quality” claims since ho was in -London, but lie was inclined to- think that little change had oocurre-d. The insurance companies liad informed tho Australian Government that they were drawing up new clauses for frozen meat policies. He had not the communications, with him, but, speaking from memory, he thought that they intended to increase tho 'rates to an extent that would make insurance alniost -prohibitive. A most reliable authority had written to him stating that it was timo the colonists wero protected, against many unjust claims for quality and insurance. He realised that an important factor in the slump was the lack of British employment for the British workmen but lie. hoped that that was a phase of the question which would gradually pass away. British trade, however, did not recover as quickly as the United States trade, on account, he thought, of tho fiscal policy, but with an improved outlook m tho commercial world lio hoped that there would be brighter prospects. THE HOAIE SYSTEM. To a lesser degree, the lowering of the prices avas undoubtedly caused by claims made on the meat, whether damaged or not. Owing to tho system prevailing at Home, those allowances were usually made in a way which left room for under-cutting. Those concessions at the present time might apply more to shipments from New Zealand, although he had read reports from oili’cia] sources in Australia, denying that thero was anything like carelessness at tins end. A\ T hen Australian meat fell, of course, New Zealand meat responded to a certain extent in sympathy. ASSESSING ILiMAGE. One of the worst features in connection with the assessments was that, as his experience had shown, there was no guarantee that the ten per cent, of the whole parcel which was taken lor the purpose of assessment was a fair representation of the total bulk. Indeed, he had proved that when ten per cent, had been left in store, it probably was tho worst of the whole parcel, and upon its condition damage was awarded to the lot. AVhen he was in London, and afterwards in New Zealand, he commented strongly on that fact in his reports, - and ho submitted oosals which he. felt were best calculated to improve matters. At that time, howover, the insurance companies at Home were not disposed to take the subject in hand. They took, up the attitude that a certain method had been established lor assessing damage, and that- if the premiums did not cover the losses, they would increase the premiums to the rates required to do ho. Apparently that was what they were doing now. In the case of certain meat —it might be Australian—they were finding that the rate must be increased to something whYeh was almost prohibitive UNDER AYR ITERS’ DIFFICULTY. He had read a communication sent by Mi. Patterson, who had had much experience in connection with meat, to the Alinister. of Agriculture in New South AY ales, who stated that the difficulty on the part of the underwriters "was mostly due to the insurance cover beyond the period of sea transit, and who added that the meat was practically under the inspection of officers from abattoirs up to the time it was ready for shipment. The “Sydney. Alorning Herald” had also taken up the subject in a vigorous manner. THE VALUES. AY bile there might be some faults in the matter of shipping at this end, the main cause, there was no doubt, was in the methods adopted in London in arriving at the values. The question of damage and not up to quality, while •he was in the Old Country, gave him much concert!, and he succeeded in largely checking it. To one man in London lie paid £BOO for six months’ allowances before the check was put on, and during the next six months, when the check operated, he did not get more than £lO or £ls. 'At that time, also, several claims that had been made on shipments from Now Zealand were abandoned, and it was possible that, in some degree, lie had,, run them to earth.' ,