The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1895.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 212, 5 September 1895, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1895.

Far the came tit at lacks assistance, For the toong that needs resistance, For the lutaxt in t_2 distance. A_d tho good that we can do.

The number of cable messages we have published during; the last few days in connection with the export of colonial produce may be taken as an indication of the deep interest that is felt on the subject in English com. mercial circles. This increased attention to the expansion of our trade is due in a great measure to the vigorous efforts our Australian neighbours are making to secure additional markets for their produce. ' It is only a year or two ago since, pressed by hard times, they fully realised the enormous resources at their command, which could, with the display of a little energy, be exchanged for current coin of the realm.When the Australians first talked of building" up an immense trade in the export of frozen meat, some of our local producers were in-

ciined io sneer at vie iuea mat —ew Zealand had anything to fear from serious competition. Much was made of the unsuitable breeds of Australian sheep, and of the want of succulent pasturage, while it was confidently asserted by some critics that the climatic conditions of the island - continent would prevent our neighbours from turning out meat for export that would compare in quality and flavour with that produced in this colony. There was undoubtedly great force in these objections,, but those who urged them appeared to forget that the breed of sheep could speedily be changed ; and although climatic conditions and our broad areas of rich English grasses give us an immense advantage, yet owing to the great variety of climate to be found throughout her extensive territories, many parts of Australia are fitted to produce the toothsome delicatelyflavoured mutton that finds favour with English consumers. At any rate, the obstacles that to outsiders appealed so formidable, were made light of by Australians themselves. Agents visited Europe for the purpose of inspecting the markets and finding out upon the spot the prospects of increasing largely the trade in frozen mutton ; attempts were made to open up a trade in canned meats with Continental nations, and shipments of live stock were sent to England. If these efforts have been attended with some drawbacks, the Australians consider the measure of success they have met with is sufficient to warrant the conviction that in a short time their export of meat and other products to European markets will be a large and lucrative one. Amongst the many business men who have recently visited England for the purpose of making investigations regarding the colonial export trade is Mr S. W. Bradbury, a Sydney merchant. That gentleman is largely interested in the meat trade, and having, just returned from an extensive European tour, is in a position to give some interesting information, the result of his own observation. In the course of an interview with a press representative, Mr Bradbury said he had visited Liverpool, Manchester, Bradford and a number of other towns in Great Britain with a view of ascertaining what was actually being done, and what was the kind of meat demanded by local requirements. Mr Bradbury also visited Paris and several other Continental towns of importance to ascertain what chance there was, it any, of increasing the Australian trade in those parts in frozen mutton and canned meats.

As a resuit of his observations Mr Bradbury's mind appears to be powerfully impressed by two considerations. The first is that if there is not in future a practically unlimited demand for colonial frozen meat in the Home market, the fault rests with ourselves ; and the second consideration is that a great improvement is necessary in the quality ot the meat, and in the methods by which it is placed before the British consumer. Mr Bradbury's remarks, of course, refer primarily to Australia, and sQme of them are not applicable to New Zealand mutton, which is in every respect superior to the Australian; nevertheless, they are well worthy the attention of our sheep farmers. It ought not to be necessary at this time of day to remind the colonies that if they are to overcome English prejudices, and to compete successfully with their Argentine rivals, the shipments of frozen meat should be of unexceptionable quality. New Zealanders pay too little attention to this elementary principle of commercial enterprise, but the Australians appear to have overlooked it altogether, and without making any provision for grading, have shipped all sorts of carcases to London—great Lincolns, Lincoln crossbreds, Down crossbreds, etc., in happy indifference to the tastes of metropolitan meat eaters. Another point on which Mr Bradbury lays stress is that no pains are taken to supply the various centres of England with the class of meat that they prefer. On this subject he makes the following remarks, which are worthy the attention of our shippers :—

It may nob bo generally known thab each portion of England has its own particular likes and dislikes in regard to the meat that ib consumes ; bub in point of fact this ia so true thab meat which is practically

worthless in tha London markeb would, in certain provincial markets, bring a higher price than any other kind of meat, whilst, conversely, meat thab ia valuable in London mighb bo of no value in the provinces, and meat that we boil down here would bring a highly remunerative price if sen. to bhe right quarter of England. I. saw some sheep in the* Smibhtield markeb Bold to a provincial wholesale butcher aba very low price, for the simple reason that there was no chance of disposing of them retail in London. Yet the purchaser gave me an order for 20,000 ab an increased price of Jd per lb.

The Australians show similar carelessness in placing some of their other products on the English markets. Mr Bradbury thinks that if lamb of the right kind is sentit is practically impossible to overstock the London market. But he admits that the specimens of Australian lamb he saw were not flattering to the colonies. The so-called lamb was lean and bony, and looked so suspiciously like mutton that the English would not believe it was lamb at all. The same slovenliness pervaded other departments. The Australian frozen beef was so badly cut up that it compared most unfavourably with the American ; the rabbits had been cleaned so carelessly that they were not fit for sale; and as for sheeps' kidneys, the Australian specimens were of " a nasty dark purple colour and appeared withered/ presenting altogether such a sorry appearance when placed beside the American article that Mr Bradbury testifies pathetically, " I could .not believe my eyes." The only redeeming feature in the show was that the Australian canned meats were decidedly superior in flavour and quality to the American product. We believe that the complaints which Mr Bradbury makes are very little, if at all, applicable to New Zealand meat exports, but unfortunately we suffer from the faults of our neighbours. English purchasers of frozen meat are none too discriminating, and there is often a singular vagueness in the public mind with regard to the geography of these colonies.'' There are very few people in England who realise as a fact that Australia itself is a country almost as large as the United States, and that New Zealand consists <jf two islands having an area larger than Great Britain, and as distant from Australia as London is from Russia or from Algiers. Another fact which they are unaware of, or do not bear in mind, is the climatic difference, •which has a very material effect upon animal life. New Zealand, moreover, has eight and a half million acres under choice English grasses, while the area of sown grass lands in all the Australian colonies combined is less than a million acres. With ordinary attention to the requirements of the English market, therefore, New Zealand meat will always command a considerably higher price than any of its rivals. The superiority of New Zealand mutton over Australian is well recognised in in the colonies.

Mr Bradbury is of opinion that, if the proper conditions are fulfilled, Australasia will find a splendid outlet in England for many products besides frozen meat. While rabbits are poisoned by thousands in the colonies, they could be sold in England from 6d to iod each. Hares, that in many parts of Australia are shot down and left lying in hundreds on the stations, would fetch two shillings each in London, with an almost unlimited demand in the colonies. The trade in frozen poultry, he thinks, might also be profitably developed.

It is evident from Mr Bradbury's remarks that he has pretty accurately gauged the situation. The colonies have a splendid opportunity afforded them in the English markets, but it is absolutely necessary to remedy the defects that at present impede the development of our export trade. We are glad to say that this fact is becoming more generally recognised, and the efforts which are now being made to secure more attention to the requirements of the Home market will,, we hope, be productive of good results. An important conference with reference to the frozen meat industry opens its deliberations in Wellington to-day ; it will be attended by delegates from all parts of New Zealand. Among other matters to be considered is Mr Nathan's scheme for combining all the lrozen meat companies in the colony into one big concern. This proposal we believe to be quite impracticable ; nevertheless, we have no doubt that a free discussion of the whole question will lead to some combined effort to place the trade upon a more satisfactory footing than it is at present.