I.—loa.

52

[dilnot sladden.

9. Were you able to ascertain whether there was any combine amongst the retail butchers in any way ? —I do not think so. The competition is very keen everywhere, and the feeling between one trader and another is much the same there as in any other part of the world. 10. Did you think that the difference between "the wholesale and retail price of New Zealand frozen meat was greater than in the average of cases in the New Zealand trade ?—I did not compare it with New Zealand, but I took a great deal of trouble to ascertain whether there was more difference between the wholesale and retail price in frozen meat in England than in fresh meat, and I came to the conclusion that there was very little difference; if anything, there was a greater margin of price between the wholesale and retail prices of frozen meat than those of fresh meat, but, if so, it was so small that it was not worth taking into consideration. On occasions you could find some instances where there had been a larger profit on frozen meat, but there was more fluctuation. 11. Were you able to come to any conclusion as to whether the price of New Zealand frozen meat suffered from the substitution of inferior frozen meat from South America or elsewhere ?—I could not find anything of that sort. It appeared to me that all the people I came in contact with knew pretty well the difference in value between the different qualities of frozen and chilled meat, and thoroughly understood the business throughout. There is a much greater demand for New Zealand meat than for Argentine meat—that is to say, all the retailers who can afford to sell the good article do not want the lowest-class article, and will take New Zealand meat in preference to Argentine meat. Although it did not come under my notice, I think it is highly probable that people selling Australian or Argentine meat would not draw attention to the fact that it was such meat if they could sell it as New Zealand. I think it is highly probable they would sell other meat as New Zealand, but I was not able to find out anything of that sort. All the retailers seem to know the relative values of the various meats. Many of them said they would always buy Argentine meat if their customers liked it as well as they did New Zealand meat; but they did not, and therefore they were obliged to buy New Zealand, or a certain proportion of it, unless it got too high. There is a large number of traders who require a certain quantity of meat, and if the price goes up too high they cannot buy it, and their customers then prefer to take meat of an inferior quality at a lower price. In such cases you perhaps find shops which have been selling New Zealand meat for many months buying Argentine meat. It is a question of price. 12. Is it your opinion, then, that the consumers generally are quite well aware of the differences between the prices of frozen meat?— The consumers, I think, knew less about it than I expected. They all knew about New Zealand lamb and asked for it, but did not seem to ask so much for New Zealand mutton, although they got a good deal of it. I might say that the butchers generally in most parts of the country take up this stand. They say, " Most of our customers do not ask us any questions; we give them what suits them and they are satisfied with it." Of course that does not hold with regard to New Zealand lamb. The consumers prefer New Zealand lamb to English lamb, and ask for it. 13. What comparison would you make between South American mutton on the one hand and North Island mutton on the other?— The difference between River Plate meat and North Island meat ranges, I think, from Ad. to fd., and, then, I put the difference between North Island and Canterbury at from Ad. to Jd. 14. Did you see any South American mutton which was equal to our best North Island mutton ? —I saw some very good River Plate mutton. A good deal of it looks very well, but the verdict of the butchers upon it—to use their own expression—is that it does not cut so well as New Zealand meat. Their general opinion is that either the pasture or the climate in South America is different to that of New Zealand, and they get a harsher meat, or a meat that does not cut so well. One very large salesman was very candid about it, and said, " So far as I am concerned I can always get Argentine meat, and if it would suit my customers I would get no other, but unfortunately it will not do for every one." 15. Mr. Cameron's proposal is to plant a Government shop in the large centres of population —that is, in towns of one hundred thousand inhabitants : do you think the English public require the advertisement by demonstration, as it is called by Mr. Cameron, that such a shop as that would afford?—-It did not seem to me that New Zealand meat wanted any advertising at all. Generally speaking, for several years past there has been a very strong demand for all the New Zealand mutton that has been put out. The only question that has arisen from time to time has been in regard to price. All the New Zealand meat held at the present moment could be sold readily on c.i.f. terms, but most people offering it expect a little more than is just now being offered. There are plenty of people willing to buy it, and it could all be turned over within the next three or four days. 16. Mr. Cameron advocates that each freezing company in New Zealand should have its own agent in London, and insist that all the meat handled should be marketed through each company's agent or be under his control. Would you consider that practicable ?—I do not quite understand what you mean by "marketing." Do you mean that they would not have it sold wholesale or retail without the consent of the company's representative ? 17. That it would not be sold wholesale except under his control—that the freezing companies here would refuse to receive stock except under conditions implying that sort of control ? —I do not see that there would be any advantage in that. The aim of most of the freezing companies is to insure that the meat, if possible, when it lands in England, is the property of people in England, and so long as a good proportion of it belongs to English holders when it lands you are tolerably certain that there will be no great slump. When a slump has occurred the great bulk of it has been on consignment, and the distributors have had no object in view except to " bear " it. 18. To what extent does New Zealand frozen meat now belong to English owners when it lands in London?—lt would be very difficult to give an answer to that. I should say that with