H. C. CAMERON.]

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I.—loa

117. Supposing you were a farmer, and the New Zealand meat companies said to you, " We will not ship your meat unless we have the disposal of it in London," would you not at once, and rightly so, resent your freedom being interfered with—in other words, employ your own agent to carry out your instructions in London ? Would you not, and rightly, if you were a farmer, say, " There is something to conceal in this. I am not "satisfied that the freezing companies will do my business so satisfactorily as my own agent, and I will go to the first freezing company which leaves me free to sell when, where, and how I like" ?—But I have just said that the freezing companies should agree not to freeze for any one except under these conditions. There would therefore be no other freezing company to go to. The farmer may look upon it as hard, but it is to his benefit that a few interested men should handle all the meat rather than many disinterested men should handle numerous small lots in competition. 118. I want you to explain, if you do not shut out the London c.i.f. buyer, who carries out the greater part of the trade now, how you are to place him under control so far as his meat is to be placed in London? —You cannot place him under control. He can "bear" the market if he chooses, or give his meat away. Knowing, however, the price he has paid for it, the representatives of the companies at Home would know what price he must sell it at to make a profit. They could watch his sales and watch the market. 119. What do you mean by watching his sales—obtaining from him the price at which he sells from time to time ?—Not necessarily from him, but obtaining, to the best of their ability, information as to the price at which he is selling his purchases. 120. What would be the result of that ?—They would know if he was " bearing" the market or not. They would know whether it was necessary for them to follow him or whether they should endeavour to get a better price than he was selling at. 121. You have said that a guide to the owner of the meat would be what it cost him: would the prospective market-values be the guide rather than what he paid ? —Of course, you understand that a Board such as is suggested would meet and confer. They would know what was being done on the market. I say it would be for the general benefit of the trade. 122. You have stated in your evidence that the best Argentine mutton is equal to the best North Island mutton : how would you keep clear of the Argentine competition, that being so ?— In all businesses you have to face competition ; that is why I suggest the Government advertising New Zealand meat by demonstration. 123. How would you get away from the Argentine competition, your competitor's goods being equal to yours?—By specialising New Zealand meat. That, however, does not get away from the fact that I think it wouldj enefit the trade to have the combination suggested. 124. You say that Nelson and Sons have paid a dividend of 50 per cent. ?—So I understand from their reports. 125. Are you aware of the financial position of these companies a few years ago ?—Yes ; they were rather bad, I believe. 126. In subsection 2 of your report you state as follows : "I am strongly of opinion that wholesate meat-merchants ought not to be employed by New Zealand producers as their commission agents." Are you aware that in Canterbury, and all over New Zealand, many of the auctioneers who do a large business as agents are also dealers in stock?—-I remember that, when I was in New Zealand before, the farmers did not at all approve of an auctioneer being a dealer. They preferred an auctioneer being an agent, acting solely in their best interests. 127. I asked you whether you were aware that it was so? —I have not been in New Zealand for several years, and am not aware of it. 128. You are also in favour of reducing the number of agents in London. Are you aware of the number of aucti6neers who act as selling agents at Addington yards in Canterbury ?—I understand there is a large number, but I do not think that has anything to do with the number of meat agents at Home. 129. Would you advise a restriction of their number ?—The position is entirely different, I consider. 130. There are a large number of auctioneers at Addington yards, Christchurch, every Wednesday doing business. Would you advise the farmers there to reduce the number of auctioneers in order that they might get better prices for their stock ?—I would not advise on anything I know nothing about. 131. How would you distinguish between an agent in London who is also a dealer in frozen meat and one who is not ? How would you detect the difference ? —Well, those who are dealers in meat at Home, I think, are generally well known. They buy wholesale and sell lines in retail. The New Zealand representatives that I suggest would be sent to London by each of the refrigerating companies in New Zealand, and they would be genuine agents —they would not be dealers. Each would represent the output of his particular factory, and his whole interest would lie in his doing his best for that output. 132. As to fraudulent sales : You think it is practicable to stop these in the retail trade. In other words, when the meat is cut up into chops and small portions, how would you distinguish between what is Eiver Plate and what is New Zealand meat ?—When a man is supposed to be selling Eiver Plate meat as New Zealand, you do not take into consideration the proof of a case against him from the sale of chops and small pieces. You have to select some particular joint of meat or carcase of mutton or lamb from which you can prosecute and convict him. 133. If it is practicable to stop these fraudulent sales, can you explain to the Committee why it is that they have not been able to stop them in competition with British-killed meat ?—The same difficulty arises in a prosecution for the sale of New Zealand meat as English as in the case of a prosecution for selling Eiver Plate meat as New Zealand. Under the Merchandise Marks Act, which is the Act you have to prosecute under in order to convict, it is necessary that an invoice