THE MEAT-DISTRIBUTING SCHEME.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 173, 22 July 1903, Page 5

THE MEAT-DISTRIBUTING SCHEME.

A FINANCIAL FORECAST.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON. Tuesday.

A couple of reports in connection with the scheme for distributing New Zealand meat in England were laid on the table of the House to-day. One of these was prepared by Mr A. C. Cameron, and was, AVith the exception of the introductory paragraph, a replica of a report presented to the Housp by the same gentleman in 1899, in urging the adoption of the scheme. The Commissioner pointed out that the New Zealand producers could create a demand for themselves by advertising t>he more effective form of which would be to open shops in the large central. Mr Cameron submitted an estimate of the oost of fitting up, working expenses, etc., for the carrying on of a depot for the sale of New Zealand meat on a large centre in England. The capital required for each depot would be £2000, of which £500 would be for tiling and fittings, £500 for a refrigerating plant, and £100 for one month's supply of meat, together with incidental expenses. The cost of conducting the business for the first year would be £1900, including railing, rent, wages, delivery, etc., The cost per 601b sheep is given at £1, and, working on a low basis, the estimated receipts from each sheep of that weight would be £1 6/9 J. The profit on a 351b lamb would vary from 6/2 to 3/3, according to season, all owing for reasonable sales. Mr Cameron calculates that the profits from mutton and lamb in the first year would be £1677, and from beef £ 520, leaving a net profit after expenses and contingencies of £137. or 6| per cent. For the second year Mr Cameron estimates the profits at £2949, less expenses £2660, leaving a net profit of £289; for the third year he thinks the profit would be £979, or 48 per cent, on the original capital. It is proposed apparently to sell legs of mutton at 7d per lb, shoulders and loins at Gd, necks 3U, and breast 2d. Qn this basis a sheep of 601b, costing 4d per lb on trucks in London, would realise £1 6/9J, or a profit of 6/9*. The prices proposed to be charged for lamb from April to September are: Legs and shoulders 9d, loins Bd, necks 6d, breasts 3d. The prieen for lamb are to be Id per lb less from October to March. It is estimated that each depot will sell 30 sheep and 100 lambs per week from April to September, and 50 sheep and 40 lambs per week from October to March, and 24001b of beef per week.