FROZEN MEAT CONFERENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2577, 4 February 1910, Page 2

FROZEN MEAT CONFERENCE

FURTHER DETAILS BY MAIL.

A SUMMARY OF SPEECHES

The report supplied by the Press Association of the Dominion Conference hold in Christchurch in regard to the 'frozen meat trade being inadequate to the importance of the subject, the following summary of the discussion has been culled from the reports of Christchurch papers. The chairman’s address, of widen a summary has been already published, is not given again. The first remit considered was that from the iScargiil Farmers’ Union — “That frozen mjeat should bo consigned 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.’’ In moving the /remit, Mr G. Sheaf, a representative of the North Canterbury Farmers’ Union, said that iScargiil Union considered it was highly desirable that some means should bo adopted to prevent the repetition of such an occurrence as -that referred to by tho ohairman, when 1,203,000 carcases were dumped upon tho market within the short space of three months. Ho Relieved that it was practicable to form a company to regulate the distribution of frozen meat, and one of the first essentials of such a scheme would be extensive cool storage capacity. Mr ,H; Acton-Adams (Seargill Farmers’ Union) seconded the notion. He considered .the only practical method of controlling the output was by fixing the export from day to day, as was done in tho Argentine. At present there was no method whatever in tho Dominion. It was desirable that some system of grading should be established. He (lid not think much assistance could 6c expected from the shipping and freezing companies. Mr T. E. L. Roberts (Seargill Farmers’ Union) said he would' like to see tho moat better handled at tho other end. During a visit to Smitlifield lie liad seen meat exposed for sale that was not fit for consumption. It was not expected that the proposed company would secure control of tho whole of the Dominion’s export of meat, but the desired result would bo obtained if a sufficient quantity was controlled to influence the market beneficially.

PRODUCER NOT GETTING VALUE. Air C. H. Ensor (Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association) said that there had long been a feeling that the producer was not receiving value for his meat in proportion to the prices •paid by tho consumers. At the very time that the market was reported to be glutted with Now Zealand meat, a meeting of the London Borough Couucils was held, at which it was resolved that the meat supply of the metropolis was unsatisfactory, and that tlio Government should be asked to relax Ibo restrictions on the importation of cattle for immediate slaughter. Altaough there had been an overproduction of New Zealand meat, there had been no reduction in the retail prices with a view to stimulating an increased consumption. There were then the facts that the Dominion’s slieepfarmers had suffered an aggregate loss of one million ipounds, of which the consumers had received, no benefit, and what the conference now wanted to know was where that million pounds had gone. The American beef trust already controlled two-thirds of the export from the Argentine, and the New Zealand producers should combine and fight this .trust. Air AV. D. Lysnar supported tli> motion. but suggested the addition of tho words “sold as far as possible” after the world “should be.” He said he had lost all confidence in the way our meat was dealt with in London, and lie believed that in the British-New Zealand Produce Company, they had the nucleus of what they wanted. He Believed that the chairman had overvalued the meat in his quotations, but had understated the total loss, which, he concluded, from the losses that took place in the north, was over £1.000,000. He complained that the claims for damage wore unfairly allowed, and he quoted the instance where £I7OO was allowed when there was no real damage. It was time they did (something, but they must have the co-operation of all the farmers in New Zealand. (Hear, hear.) He was n part shareholder in the British New Zealand Company, and he thought they were dead, hut on coming to Christchurch he found they were very much alive. One of the first- steps was to secure uniform grading, as. all the different freezing companies had their own standard of grading, and then the improper claims for damage at the other end must be prevented. There was no meed to send all the meat through one source, but they should send all they could, and it would not interfere with present business relations between shippers and their bankers. The mover of the motion said lie had mo objection to his motion being so amended. APPOINTAIENT OF COAIAIITTEE.

Air J. D. Hall (Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association) said the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association had put forward a remit that a committee should be appointed to inquire into the advisableness of forming an organisation for the purpose of protecting tho interests of the .nroducers. Much better results could be obtained, he considered, by sucli a committee meeting that evening and presenting a report to the conference on the following day. It was agreed that the first remit should bo carried as a recommendation to the proposed committee of inquiry. Mr Kinross White (North British and Hawke’s Bay Freezing Company) attributed the sharp drop last year on the London market to the inevitable rule of supply and demand, which would occur in any trade. Air John Talbot (South Canterbury Farmers’ Union) said it would 1 e impracticable to suggest a business fertile whole of the Dominion, for the producer would not have his lan is

tied, mid he would have to he left Iroe. It was a reflection on the big arms to say that they had not done their best to get rid of the stocks on the London market, but if they did not then the' time would be ripe to form a business. CANTERBURY AQUATION'S REMIT.

In the course of further discussion the chairman agreed to take the third remit, which was proposed by Mr A. Chamberlain (Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association) —“That a committee be appointed with a view of inquiring into the advisableness of forming an organisation for the purpose of protecting the interests of the producers, and that such committee be elected by ballot on the first day of the conference.” Mr Chamberlain named a committee of twelve, with six members from each .island.

Mr j. Talbot seconded the motion. Mr F. de C. Millet (Christchurch Meat Company) said it would be futile to get up a committee and hope that it could, for some time at least, deal with a question of this nature. Various inquiries would have to' be made. He suggested that there should be an addition to the motion, naming the time when the committee should report, and to whom it should report.

ATTITUDE OF COMPANIES'. The Hon. T. Mackenzie said that Mr Malet had mentioned the fact that there were great obstacles in the way of the committee, and that was not neutral or progressive, or designed to assist the purpose lor which the conference had been called. Those interested in the New Zealand meat trade desired to listen to the grievances of the producers and to gather enlight-u----ment from men in the position of 'Mr Malet. Charges had been made that ought to be answered, namely, that there was an unfair proportion between the price Realised at Home and the price returned to the producers, and also that there had, been unfair claims. “Those people who'had been entrusted for a considerable time with the handling of our meat,” continued the Minister, “should be prepared to give, us SC'me enlightenment as a guide to those who have come to assist at this conference.” ’ (Applause.) Mr Malet said that what he had meant to imply was that, being present in a dual capacity, it would not be desirable for him to take an active part in the discussion. Some further machinery than the clause should be added. As to whether lie should or should not take part in the discussion, that was a matter not for the Minister for Agriculture, but for his own good taste.

Mr Lysnar said it was an old matter with the companies, and they should have detailed information ready. It was the. want of this information that led to confusion, and there was a growing feeling in the dominion that it was the desire of some of those interested in the trade that this confusion should continue, and that the light of day should not be thrown on the matter. “AN UNWARRANTABLE PRESUMPTION.”

Sir George Clifford (Canterbury Frozen Meat Conupany) said that it was an unwarrantable presumption to say that the freezing companies were withholding information. They were as much, if not more, interested than anyone else in the prosperity of the trade, and any information would be freely’ granted "to any committee set up bj T the conference. (Hear, hear.) Questions might be asked which required a great deal of consideration and reference to figures before they could be satisfactorily answered, and ho did not think that'a question asked at the conference should be answered by any representative of a freezing company without consideration, for only a studied answer would be useful to the committee in making a permanent recommendation. The freezing companies were themselves as keen that the farmers’ interests should be conserved as anybody, because their interests wore bound "up with the prosperity of the trade and the profit of the producers. Mr F. de C. Malet, speaking on -behalf of the Christchurch Meat Company, also undertook to give any information that was within reason to assist the committee in framing a report. Mr. N. Kettle (Napier Chamber oT Commerce) urged that a permanent committee should be appointed to extend its inquiries to London. The third remit was carried without dissent. The committee was elected as follows : North Island. —Messrs ,T. G. Wilson, R. D. D. MMiOan, E. A. Campbell, A. Borthwick, J. Barugh, and W. D. Lysnar.

South Island. —Messrs D. 7). Maefnrlane, J. I). Hall, J. C. X. Grigg, F. "\Vaymoutli, and G. Jameson, and Sir George Clifford. The first remit was then carried, amended as follows: —"That frozen meat should he consigned or sold as far as possible through an organisation of producers, or a farmers’ co-opera-tive 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. This resolution to he referred to a committee.”