FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 95, 23 April 1889, Page 2

FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

IMPORTANT PROPOSALS

The following letter has been addressed to flock-owners in Waikato by Messrs L. D. Nathan and Co., Auckland, as agents for Messrs Nelson 'Bros., of Wellington.

Sn.,—You have doubtless had your attention called to the proposal for dealing with frozen meat in London, under a combination consisting of the Shipping Companies, Messrs Nelson Bros. (Limited), and others interested in the trade, whereby a minimum price is secured to the shipper, no matter how tho venture may result. Messrs Nelson Bros. (Limited) have furnished us with particulars of the scheme, and have appointed us to represent them in this district for the furtherance of the object in view ; and, for your information, we beg to hand you a copy of the suggested agreement (with schedule attached), which, should you desire to take advantage of tho proposal, we should be obliged by your filling up and returning to u_ not later than the 18th inst. The scheme is one which we believe will be for the benefit of those who accept it, but to ensure its being carried out successfully it requires to meet with general support, as one of its chief objects is to curtail the number of consignees of meat, and thus give reasonable hope of maintaining prices. Tho Wellington Freezing Companies are fully engaged up to the end of May, so that, unless you have already secured space, you will not be able to begin shipping until that date; but if you have room already engaged, the sheep or lambs which you had intended to ship can go forward under the combined scheme should you so desire.—We are, etc., L. D. Nathan.

AGREEMENT.

I hereby agree to deliver to Nelson Bros. (Limited), or their agents, on the terms of tliis agreement and tho annexed schedule, all fat sheep and lambs which I have to dispose of up to the following quantities, provided I am able to arrange for tho freezing of such sheep and lambs in Wellington. Thousand sheep ) per Thousand lambs { annum for a period of three years from date ; and I further undertake nob otherwiso to dispose of any fab sheep or lambs, if the so doing would in any way interfere with my fulfilling this contract. Should my supplies of fab sheep and lambs suitable for shipment to England exceed tho abovenamed figures, and should I bo desirous of shipping further quantities, I agree either to offer such surplus to Messrs Nelson Bros (Limited), on the terms of this contract, or to consign the same to that Company for sale on my own account, as may be mutually agreed. I have the privilege of deciding in any one year before the 30th of September whether I wish my guaranteed shipments to continue under the annexed schedulo or to' be sold on their own merits. In the latter case the meat is to be shipped at the rates of freight now current, viz:—l^.d per lb and 5 per,cent, primage for sheep in equal quantities, summer and winter. l_d. per lb and 5 per cent, primage for any excess of summer over winter shipments of sheep, lid per lb and 5 per cent, primage for lambs equal summer and .winter shipments. lid per lb and 5 per

cent, primage for any excess of summer over winter shipments of lambs. Such decision is to bold good for the following shipping season, viz., November to November. The weight to be paid for is to be cold weight, less .lb per cent. Account sales to be- made up on that weight. Should I object to the classification, I am to have the option of consigning the sheep objected to for sale by Nelson Bros. (Limited) on my account, instead of putting them under the schedule scale. In the event of war in which Great Britain is in any way implicated, Nelson Bros. (Limited) are to have the option of terminating this contract. Schedule : All sheep and lambs guaranteed under this contract to be shipped by the steamers of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company (Limited), the New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited), and the Colonial Union Company (Limited), as Nelson Bros. (Limited) or their agents may direct. Guarantors to give Nelson Bros. (Limited) or their agents sufficient notice in writing of their probable shipping requirements, in order to enable the Company to make the necessary freight arrangements. Shipments as far as possible to be equally spread over the summer and winter months. Shipper to be paid in cash, less exchange, on delivery of bills of lading to Nelson' Bro3. (Limited) or their agents, on the following terms :— '_ Sheep: For first-class quality, frozen f.0.b., 2sd per lb, with forty per cent, of excess when meat sells over 4-Jd per lb, and 80 per cent, when it sslls over 5d per lb. For second-class quality, frozen f.0.b., 1-fd per lb, with 40 per cent, of excess when meat sells over 3§d per lb, and SO per cent, when it sells over 4Ad per lb. For thirdclass quality, frozen f.0.b., l^d per lb, with 40 per cent, of excess when meat sells over Z\d per lb, and 80 when it sells over 4d per lb. Lambs: For first-class quality, frozen f.0.b., Z^d per lb, with 40 per cent, of excess when meat sells over sgd per lb, and 80 per cent, when it sells over 6.-£ d per lb. For second-class quality, frozen f.o.b, 2Jcl per lb, with 40 per cent, of excess when meat sells over 4§d per lb, and 80 per cent, when it sells over s|d per lb.

First-class sheep shall mean prime wethers and maiden ewes. Second-class sheep, inferior and excessively fat wethers, dry ewes and prime Merino. Third-class sheep, light weight Merinos. Fiist-class lambs, light weight, all well-conditioned lambs not over 40lb. Second-class lambs, light weight, inferior quality and over 401b.

All sheep manifestly unfit for freezing to be declined absolutely. Any dispute to be settled by arbitration. Classification to be left to Nelson Bros. (Limited), or their agents.