The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News,and Echo. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1896,

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 305, 23 December 1896, Page 4

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

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1896,

EUROPEAN DEMAND FOR FROZEN MUTTON.

For ths cans. tfc_at lasts sasfsttnea, lor tho vroas ;___.; ne.fis resiateEts, .For tho fntore in th_ iistan... And ilit ffiod that ire o.n so.

The position of Now Zealand in regard to the frozen meat export trade reminds one a little of tbab amiable French monarch who longed that every peasant in his dominions might have a fowl in the pot once a week. Though not actuated entirely by the same philanthropic motives as the King, we are just as anxious that overy housekeeper, rich and poor, in the United Kingdom and in Europe, should have a joinb of prime New Zealand mur..on roasting in her Oven every Sunday. Nay, we would be all the better pleased if she had one every day. But as the king would certainly have encosntered insuperable obstacles had ho tried to carry into practical effect the generous impulio of his heart, so we have not yet been able to dovise a plan for tbe accomplishment of our dosires.

Ib may be said, however, for our scheme that ib is scarcely so Utopian as the royal dream was, and though wo cannot hope, porhaps, for its entire realisation, its partial success may certainly be attained. If we cannot- exactly take in hand to feed ell the hungry mouths in Europe, bhere is nothing to hinder us providing them with wholesome animal food at a rate within their very limited means. The benefits which it is in tbe power of these colonies to confer on the old countries at the other side of tho world present themselves before us more forcibly at this fe»tive season than at any other period of the yoar. Now is the timo when everybody looks for a good meal, and when through the harshness of the climate tho lack of animal food is particularly felt in Europe.

That there are almost unlimited possibilities for our frozen mutton in Europe hardly requires to be reiterated here. Over and over again is has been shown that thore is nearly as big a market for good, cheap mutton as there would havo been for the King's fowls. But ib sadly lacks development. Our producers have arrayed agaiust them the powerful agricultural and stock interests of the Old Country, and tho prejudices of tho multitude, and have to fight che battle with iuferior tools in the way of facilities for successful carriage of the meat, and ita rapid distribution.

As an instance of the undeveloped market that exists for colonial enterprise in this branch of bnsiness, we may refer to the arrangements which have recently been made in New South Wale* and Queensland by representatives of tho Vienna Butchers' Association. It will be a surprise to most people to learn that tbe fame of Australian frozen meat has penetrated so far into tbe Continent as Au.tria, but it is a facb that only baa the fame of ib epread to the Danube, but tbe article itself is very largely consumed there. It ib, indeed, because the supply was altogether inadequate to the demand thab tbe delegs.es referred to aro visiting tho ceiosios. Their objoct is to make arrangements for regular consignments at a uniform price, and it is stated thab they ate highly pleased with the result of their iaquiries. They anticipate that a large trade will be opened up between the Uiothor colony and Austria. It is their intention to make arrangements with. Quttf.nel_.nd exporter* also.

Thero can be little doubt that this gratifying extension of tha frozen meat trade of Mew South Wales is directly or indirectly due to the energy with which tho Governments of fcln.36 colonies h<*ve pushed anel are pushing the trade. Quito recently we *nw that a joint Committee of the Queensland Parliament had been set up to consider the beet means th..t could be adopted tor the development of new markets, and that it had reported in favour of tha establishment of cool stores at the distributing centres in Great Britain, We feel quite sure that if such measures are adopted the result will be beneficial to tbe countries to whose enterprise they are due. In the same way the countries that are lacking in push and enterprise mu.t be prepared to fall behind in the race. Thus New Zealand

should run any risk of being *' left" seemß hardly possible to those who know the 'superiority of New Zealand fed mutton to tbe Australian article. But in trade the battle is not always to tbe beat, and wo must look to it that other colonies do not by greater business energy elbow us oub of the front place in the market. Already we bear ominous rumours that the good name of New Zealand mutton has declined in tbe Home markeb through the somewhat baphazard system bhab prevails in its preparation, carriage, and distribution, and more than one warning no to has been addressed to us.

This is a matter that calls for Governmenb intervention. Tbe Government should do with the meat as they have done with tbe batter. Tbey should see that every carcass that leaves New Zealand is prime, that it is carried under bbc best conditions, that suitable provision is made for its storage ab the other end of the voyage, and that ample means for its advertisement and distribution are employed. Then the consumer at Hams will learn to distinguish between prime Government guaranteed New Zealand mutton and inferior brands, a»d the trade will be established en a secure basis. Its extension from that point onwards will be a matter of busiaesi push, in which quality the Governmenb should see that our agents are not behind those of the other meat exporting companies.