Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1897. THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XVII, Issue 4192, 15 May 1897, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1897. THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

A fortnight or bo ago the cable informed us that there were no less than 500,000 carcases of frozen mutton in store in London ard 850,000 afloat for the English market. These are very large figures, and show at a glance to what immense proportions the tiade has already attained. Writing of the trade for the year 1896, and its marvellous expansions as exhibited by the facts and figures presented in W. Weddell and Go's review for the year 1896, a contemporary says:—ln the course of fifteen years an entirely new trade has grown up of sufficient magnitude to absorb 5,500,000 frozen sheep and lambs annually, close on one-third of the requirements of consumers in the United Kingdom, and yet the volume of sales of home-grown mutton in the interval has not been appreciably affected. In 1886 British farmers sent 310,000 tons of mutton and lamb to market. In 1896 they sent 329,000 1 tons. Thus they are not being ruined by Australian competition, nor has tht frozen meat trade been established at the expense of Home producers. L. 1895 (the latest official return) English hheep sold in the Metropolitan market at 5s 4d to 5s lid per stone of 8 b. In 1885 the price ranged from 5s 2d to 5s Bd. The distribution of Australasian frozen meats and the opening up of new markets are improving apace. Smithfield market still holds the premier position despite developments in the provincial trade. An instance of how tenaciously the Central Market maintains its hold is shown in the following figures:—ln 1885 the percentage of imported meat sold in London was 65 per cent., as compared with 85 per cent in the country. In 1895 the proportions were 62 per cent, and 38 per cent., the total imports having incnased from 17,708 tons to 109,015 tons per annum. Ie is thus evident that tlie promoters of a • direct trade with provincial depots without intermediate Londoiv*agencies have a good deal of unbroken ground to cover. There ig ngt r as yet any unanimity of opinion amongst those engaged in the trade, as to feasible improvements in details of operations in Australia and in London, but the ,*,rriva.i of a delegate chosen by the Australian freezing companies is considered likely to result in concerted a,ctipn, chiefly, it is hoped, in regulating supplies and adoption of a minimum price below which' no icrij ported moat will be sold. The report under notice says it is evident that no great progress cm be reported in the decentralisation of the Australasian import trade until freights to the out ports can be secured at practically the same ratpsas th°se current to London. As railway charges from London to Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff, Qlaagow, etc., now stand, there is no great margin to admit of extra freight and 1 insurance being paid for delivery by direct steamer at these poris. It U admitted that there is room under favouring circumstances for more tractive distribution, notwithstanding that the six million people in and around London probably pay better prices on an average than the 34 million in the rest of the United Kingdum. The growth of population in the home country is estimated at 400,000 persons jjsr annum, and the average yearly consumption of meat 871bs per head. Thus there is apparently room for an augmented supply of 15,500 tons per year. The home flocks can yield an increase of about 20,000 tons. This shows the need for careful regulation of supplies from Australasia. j