THE NEW ZEALAND MEAT TRADE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9763, 26 June 1897, Page 8

THE NEW ZEALAND MEAT TRADE.

INTERVIEW WITH MR THOMAS

MACKENZIE.

(FBOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, May 15,

Calling on Mr Thomas Mackenzie a few I days ago our conversation naturally gravi. j tated towards the oft-discussed and vexed subject of frozen meat. In reply to my ' question as to the prospects of prices hardening during Jubilee time, Mr Mackenzie said he bad certainly hoped for an advance lin prices, but from his short experience he had arrived at the conclusion that so long jas New Zealand shippers continued to disI tribute their consignments so widely so long would prices be cut down, because one New Zealand agent competed against I another New Zealander for the custom, and in order to place shipments, either coming forward or landed, keener quotations were made. On my asking Mr Mackenzie if he knew many instances of consignments going into too many hands, he replied, "Oh, yes, I even kuow farmers who have divided their individual shipments, given a few hundred sheep (by the same ship) to two different agents here, and really making one lot of their sheep compete against another lot of their sheep for the same customer." " But do you actually know from your own experience of prices suffering through New Zealand agents here competing wich. the same quality of meat for the same trade?" "Well," said Mr Mackenzie, "recently I had advices of considerable shipments of mutton and lamb coming forward and arriving. The quality was the primest Can. torbury. I was naturally anxious to place as much as possible of the cargoes already on board the ships in dock, and also of that shortly expected. After consultation with my produce salesman we deoided to otFe. prime mutton at 2s 2d per stone of Blb, and lamb at 3s 3d per stone of 81b, ex ship. These prices I felt were quite justified by the state of the market. I may here explain that I try to place all my meat direct without putting it through the meat market, for many reasons, which I can explain if you so desire it. The first large retail butcher approached—a thoroughly reliable man, one with whom it is a pleasure to do business—said he required prime lamb, but he could buy the primest Canterbury at 3s Id. Several others were interviewed and they said the same thing, while 2s aud 2s Id was the most; they would give for primest mutton. I reluctantly accepted that price for a few rather than put them in the cold stores and incur extra expense and deterioration. A few days afterward, although the market had not weakened, the highest price my-salesman could get was 3s pet stone for lamb ; and he was shown on paper that that wa3 actually the price charged the butchers for primest Canterbury lamb. Now, there was nothing to justify such a reduction, and I decided not to sell a lb at, that price. I would let the sellers at these prices place what they had and waii. This I did, and eventually sold every sheep and lamb of primest quality at 2s 3d and 3s 3d ex ship. Low prices are not always attributable to depressed markets, but, as shown in the foregoing instance, are due to competition and uu necessary cutting o| prices to secure orders." Next, with regard to the advantage* which arise through selling *ex ship,' I asked Mr Mackenzie what were the exact extra charges incurred through selling after arrival. " Taking mutton for instance," he replicdL "selling, ex ship, at 2s 2d per stone is equal to selling at 2s 3d,: ex store, and 2s 4d, ex' market. That is, it costs a penny for charges from ship to store, and 2d-from shipping to putting it through the market. That is the lowest cost, but if it be kept in store for a long period additional expense is incurred, and the caroaees suffer considerable deterioi ration in quality and appearance." f " What price at the port of shipment wil| a farmer in New Zealand realise for a sheep of 601b, sold at 2a 2d, ex ship, and lamu sold at 3s 2d, ex ship, in London ? " "A 601b sheep," said Mr Mackenzie, " will net about 10s 6d or 2&d per lb, and a 361b lamb will net about 10s 6d or 3Jd per lb. Of course, the New Zealand farmer also gets tbe skin, &c, in addition to this amount.." / " I have been so short a time here," Mr Mackenzie continued, "and that time by no means wholly confined to studying the frozen mutton market, that it would bs premature for mc to sucgesfc a remedy for the competition. I think, however, that h farmers should centralise so far as possible the channels of primary sales here, and that combination should exist among the Home vendors, and consultations be held with a view to fixing a reasonable price for the various qualities of New Zealand meat. It is undoubted that New Zealand meat is far iv the van of publio favour here,' and it can now comi mand a price— if prime. I am sure it is daily increasing in favour, although other competitors now in the field are fok lowing closely on our heels. Hence though New Zealand meat is so much in favour, II approve New Zealand meat being included! in Mr Twopuny's scheme for Anstraliat primarily with the object of combination! When that. is. accomplished then we cars consider our own special requirements." I On my asking Mr Mackenzie in what con 4 dition New Zealand meat is now being landed he said, "My experience is thaw there is a great improvement on old condi* tions. Although there is occasionally due carelessness in handling from the ships/ I feel sure the enquiry held by the New. Zealand Parliament in the session of 1899 did great good."