FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13909, 7 December 1910, Page 10

FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

MR WILLIAM HENDERSON'S VIEWS. An expert on the frozen meat trade, Mr William Henderson, who for some years so ably filled the position of London representative of the Christchurch Meat Company, is returning to the Dominion with his wife and daughter, and having given up the cares of business, is looking forward to enjoying a more leisurely existence in New Zealand. He has not yet decided, however, where he will settle. A copy of "The Press," received by a passenger at Honolulu, contained a. statement made by Dr. Chappie as to defects in the matter of handling frozen meat in London, especially the condition of Mie barges into which some of the meat ir unloaded. Mr Henderson, on this statement beina: brought under his notice, said he thought that Dr. Chappie was unfortunate in the particular barge he happened to examine. He explained that when the meat was unloaded into the barges, it had passed out of the control of the meat companies into private hands. When the companies stored meat they generally used the dock companies' stores, into which the meat was unloaded direct from the ship's side. Speaking of one particular private firm, however, he said nothing could exceed the care with which their meat was handled, although they used barges. He readily admitted that there were objections in regard to the latter, especially in hot weather. There was often considerable delay before a consignment could get started out, and in the meantime some of the carcases were apt to become soft. Apropos of damaged carcases, Mr Henderson said that claims were far less numerous since the underwriters had adopted the new rules. Under the old system* the underwriters paid claims with deplorable ease, not to say laxity. They comforted themselves with the resolve to put up the rates of premium another five shillings or so if they found the business unremunerative. and of course it was the shippers who were hurt. This year they decided to have a surveyor of their own to supervise the unloading and to stop the practice of paying the fees of the consignees' surveyors, and in other ways to attend

carefully to details. The result has been a* gratifying falling off in the number of claims, and certain enterprising parties at the other end are no longer able to boast oi making profits out of their claims. There has been some friction in certain quarters in connection with the settlement of claims for the .shipments damaged, but this will eventually disappear, as the underwriters shown every desire to act in a fair spirit.

Asked whether there was anything to lie done by regulating shipments to improve prices, Mr Henderson said, '•How is it to be done? You have the farmer anxious to get off his stock as soon as it is lit, and anxious to get his money. "i ou have the freezing companies anxious to clear their works and shipping regularly. Put yourself in the place of each of these parties in the trade. If there were an accumulation of stock in New .Zealand stores, the trade at Home would yet to knowit. and act accordingly. You must remember, too, that frozen meat s.teadily deteriorates as a prime marketable article the longer it is kept, and the great thing is to get it into consumption while it is fresh and bright." "How about the Argentine," I asked. •'Aren't the shippers there successful in regulating supplies?"

'How would New Zealand producers like to be in the position of the Argentine growers?" rejoined Mr Henderson. The hitter are unable to shin a. single carcase on their own account, and have to take prices offered by the companies, but even the Argentine people, smart as they are. are often heavily hit. Their trade is principally in beef, and I have known beef drop from 3s 4d per stone \n 2* in a few weeks from the glut of supplies coming forward." Mr Henderson is of opinion that if we yet 5d nor lb in London for our lamb we do very well. That price pays the grower, and enables the freezjn" companies, the London dealers, and the "butchers, to make a fair profit. "Directly you put the price up above 5d yon check consumption, and the retail' butcher discourages the sale of lamb. He stocks his shop with beef or mutton, and what he pushes m every way of either of those yields him a bettor nrotit, and when this process is repeated in every part of the kingdom it exercises a prodigious influence on the

"AVhat do you think about the policy of opening retail shops in England for the sale of our meat?" "That," reolied Mr Henderson, is a yerv risky proceeding, and a worrying business." Annrt from the ordinary risks of trade, you have to bear in mind the class of men you would havo to employ to manage these shops. \nv number of shops already opened are to he had on easy terms That is the easiest point, but the main factor is tho man in charge. Without wishing to reflect in any way on the men who would apply as shopmen to say, a Colonial company starting in the United Kingdom, I have too often heard of the difficulty English meat companies, with all their local knowledge, have in selecting men suitable and reliable in every respect to take charge of their shops, to believe that a Colonial company would achieve much success or prove an appreciable factor in the extension or improvement of present conditions or results. There is no lack of large and small retail traders. All the large companies, some with 1-100 shops dealing entirely in chilled and frozen meat, have their businesses snlendidly organised, covering almost every peopled district in the United Kingdom, and the successful conduct of such a business is onlyi acquired by long and intimate knowledge of the capacity and integrity of the men in'charge of the shops, together with a keen grasp by the general management of the daily changes in the world's markets. We must not forget that the meat salesmen and retail butchers are the growers' best friends, and that they work hard for any profit they earn. They also have their good and had times, like others." Finally. Mr Henderson insisted that the meat business was like eviery other kind of business—subject to the usual laws of supply and demand. Somo people in. the Colonies thought! that if they could only get to England and start as butchers, there would he a fortune in it. He thought twellve mouths' experience would entirely disillusionise them on this head. Mr Henderson. I may add, is in excellent health, and it is to be hoped his experience will not be lost to the' Dominion. He would be of .cjreat value as a director on the board of one of the • freezing companies.