THE SYDNEY FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 9989, 19 March 1898, Page 7

THE SYDNEY FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

The 4 effort being made by the London frozen meat committee to place the carriage of frozen meat from Australia to England upon proper lines has met with discouragement from the Sydney association of freezing companies. It was resolved by the London committee, in conference with the ship-owners, that a Lloyd's Register surveyor should inspect every vessel, his certificate of fitness to be conclusive. To this arrangement, it is stated, the Sydney association object, to the length that they will not accept such certificate. That is to say, they object to a Lloyd's surveyor. In the meantime, the London committee have proceeded to deal with another important matter, viz., the inspection of the me„t prior to shipment, arriving at the resolution that a competent surveyor, approved by ' both shipowners and freezing companies, should be appointed, and that his certificate be accepted as final. The third great interest in the matter, viz., that of the underwriters, has not yet been touched. The underwriters have for a long time suffered severe losses, particularly on Sydney shipments, and they naturally approve ot inspection. But it is to be expected that they want a say in the matter, and that if they do not get it they, in their turn, will ignore the certificates of the fitness of the ship to take the meat, and the fitness of the meat to be shipped. What is really desired in Sydney is said to be that one surveyor shall be appointed on behalf of the three interests, the shippers, the shipowners, and the underwriters. The necessary arrangements would cost about £1200 per annum, the expense to be borne pro rata. No conclusion is likely to be altogether satisfactory which does not obtain the hearty approval of the underwriters.