FROZEN MEAT CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2722, 29 January 1910, Page 2

FROZEN MEAT CONFERENCE.

YESTERDAY’S SITiiNG. rPuu Press Association.! CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 28. The Frozen Meat Conference resumed this morning, Mr. D. D. Macfarlane presiding over a large attendance of delegates. The Committee of Inquiry set up the previous, day reported as follows and made the following recommendations: — “(I) That the freezing companies ho requested to consider whether it is desirable to form a Meat Trade Federation, with a view to protecting their usual interests and those of producers in connection, more with such matters as forms of bills of lading, policies of insurance, c.i.f. and contracts, discharge in London, insurance and quality claims, pooling, grading, labor laws, and other matters of similar nature that may tend towards the improvement of the trade. “(2) That a committee he set up by the conference to receive the replies of the freezing companies re federation of the meat trade, to confer with the freezing companies or others interested on the question of forms of bill of lading, policies of insurance, c.i.f.. and contracts, and .any other matter arising out of the trade which may he referred to them, and bean organisation for the purpose of protecting the interests, of the producers, and that such committee take steps to ascertain if the producers of New Zealand arc prepared to subscribe to a fund to meet necessary expenses. “Regarding Remit No. 1, that frozen meat should he consigned and sold as far as possible through an organisation of producers or a farmers’ co-operative distributing association, in order to bring the producer and the consumer into closer touch, and that a company should be formed for that purpose if necessary, the committee considers that the time is inonoortunc, seeing that there are several other co-operative companies in existence, and considers the present facilities sufficient for disposing of frozen meat. “Regarding Remit No. 5, that it be a recommendation to the committee to consider the question of cool storage accommodation in London for the use of New Zealand exporters of meat, the committee has not sufficient information before it at present to give an opinion on the subject of cool storage in London.” The report was agreed to.

The following remits were agreed to: That it .ho recommended to the conference that a representative he appointed to represent New Zealand producers at the Vienna congress next September, with the view of opening Continental markets. That it be a recommendation to the conference to inquire into the rates and conditions of insurance against damage. That it he a recommendation to freezing companies to use stronger covers. A motion that steps should he taken to regulate shipments as far as possible from Now Zealand to suit requirements and stocks held in London and afloat was negatived. ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE. The Minister for Agriculture was received with applause. Ho said he intended to deal with some points raised at the conference, although he did not think it in his power to add much to the excellent information given by those connected with the trade, tor the best ability and greatest experience had been brought to bear the solve the problems confronting the 'industry. Questions had been raised as to control, pooling, the difference between wholesale and retail prices, increased storage, and a board to dominate prices. The questions of insurance and damage claims had also been raised. The history of the industry had been touched on, and it was gratifying to New Zealanders to know that the Dominion had prospered so well. No one who had watched the development of the industry could help feeling that those associated with it, both farmers and freezing companies, had done noble and excellent work. The distribution of some firms in the Old Country had been excellent, and there were freezing companies in the Dominion which, by close attention to work, had developed the industry in a way no other organisation could have. Their grading had been excellent, both in weight and 1 ’ quality. There was no antagonism between one section and another as to which should have place in any gathering of the kind. All were present to work mutually for the development of their own interest. The problems which the conference was taking in hand had engaged the attention of some of the ablest men in New Zealand for more than a quarter of a century. He believed, however, that no practical results would he obtained unless nil interests combined at this end to carry out what ought to he decided on at the conference. The conference had to consider the question of combination at this •yud, and of a better system of handling the produce. Another question, that of regulating shipments, ako came within the order of reference. Neglect in that respect, from time to time, led to gluts in the Home market. It did not matter whether meat was consumed in small quantitiies or large. Want of care in the, regulation of the shipments brought the same unsatisfactory results. His experience in London seemed to show that at one time the only possible thing for Now Zealand to do was to establish one central market, through .which the whole of the country’s meat could go. There was no doubt that the position of the industry required great thought and most careful handling. Although the world’s flocks were diminishing, notably on the Continent of Europe, it was only in countries to which New Zealand had no access. There were increases in the flocks, on the other hand. The Commonwealth of Australia and the Argentine had flocks numbering from 175,000.000 to 200,000,000, while New Zealand’s sheep ’numbered 24,000,000. If New Zealand could send half the quantity that the United Kingdom in ordinary conditions could consume, what was to become of the frozen imutton and lamb that would he sent into the same market from the flocks of Australia and the Argentine?

The future, on the whole, was full of reasonable promise. The whole of the world's trade was reviving. Scanning the 'history of the commercial world during the past twelve months, there was to be seen evidence of revival of trade. New Zealand had her work to do in employing more enlightened methods of preparing her products for export, making 'better regulation of t'he shipments as fair as practicable, and in having a more efficient system of handling the products abroad.