FROZEN PRODUCE LETTER.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18241, 27 November 1924, Page 10

FROZEN PRODUCE LETTER.

NATIONAL FROZEN MEAT CAMPAIGNS. S-tUTHFIELD AND ARGENTINE MEAT CO.'S FORTUNES. (feoii on: special coreestoxdent.) LONDON, October 10. At the eoF'dusioi! of a frozen meat season, and on the confines of a new campaign period, it is interesting to view in what perspective one can the progress made"in the movement of publicising frozen meat from a national point of view. New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina are three nci-k and neck competitors, whatever may be the advantages of one over the other, and the marketing, and publicity successes of one of them throughout- a season is nc-ver entirely without its effect on the fortunes ahead. A s far as New Zealand is concerned, the resuit of the publication in Great Britain of the second animal report of the Meat Producers' Board must certainly be regarded as helpful for more than one reason. There is in the document concrete evidener before the British trade of a thoroughly successful operation, as well as the launching of this producers' organisation, and the trade knows it is now to be faced by ;i client who can speak with one voice, and be on level terms with its buyers. lt« success in the freight r; ; te struggle lia.s commanded for it a respect iu these quarters, and the attempts the other hand of interested parties here—principally meat retailors—to allege market- rigging by its regulation of meat supplies, has fortunately not been attended by success.

Australia's Frozen Meat Difficulties. Another story is to be told concerning the progress of Australia in the same direction of co-ordinating and advancing its national organisation. The Australian Meat Council has had much greater difficulties to face in getting its trade into line, and without a doubt of the barriers has been a non-responsive Government, and an unhelpful Government representation at the consuming end. The Wembley Exhibition has been, through the disgraceful samples of meat shown in its earlier stages, one of the worst- advertisements -which the Commonwealth as a meat-producing country could have perpetrated. Positive action by the Australian Meat Council does not seem yet to be in sight, with the immense amount of organisation as between the States involved.

Argentine Competition. Then there is to be considered the question of the third competitor, namely, Argentina. Although no national publicity or general organising steps have been taken in hand by the South Americans, New 2ealanders must not imagine that there is not a national movement ou foot on behalf of the Argentine meat grower. A good deal has been heard of the discontent of the estauciero at the price that he has been obtaining from the leading export meat buyers in the Buenos Aires district. These complaints have impelled Government enquiry and action, and the most important result so far of that movement is perhaps the decision of the Republican Government • to establish' a national frigoriflco at Linieres, which will, by its' size and activity, spur up the competition for meat, and thus secure better fortunes for the Argentine meat-raising interests. It is stated that although the' erection of this work has not yet been started, there has already actually been imparted an impulse to live cattle prices by reason of the leading buyers seeing what is before them when such a practical step is taken. It will be unfair to say whether this is correct, failing corroborative evidence, but the fact is worth mentioning. SmitMeld and Argentine Meat Co.'s Report.

That meat freezing for export is at any rate a very profitable business for the South American companies is clearly evidenced by the report for the year's operations of one of the competing companies, which has come, by reason of its financial stress, through the most difficult waters. This is the Smithfield and Argentine Meat Company, whose difficulties were two years ago revealed by the investigation instituted by the shareholders and the revision of its directorate. Apparently, the tide has- now turned for it, as the accounts for' the' past year show a profit of £264,112, or more than twice the v £ 118,036 earned in the preceding year. The Company had a huge debit balance of £238,589 against it, which is now converted into a credit margin of £25,523. The Smithfield and Argentine Meat Company formerly did its marketing through agents in Smithfield, but now it operates its own stalls in »that and Liverpool market, and it has, moreover, surprised not a few by entering the retail business under a subsidiary shop-owning company entitled Angus ' (Butchers) Limited. Its Zarate works have been re-equipped, and the Company now appears to be in a profitable way of business.

TARANAKI OIL WELLS. The progress of work at Tarata, Taranaki. preparatory to the oil boring operations commencing, was briefly referred to by the manager of the Taranaki Oil Fields. Limitilr A. Moline, last weak. He sta,ted tha't at Xo. 1 well site at Tarata, the erection of the rig continues, and with favourable conditions it u hoped the preliminary etage3 oi drilling will be entered upon early in Decei.iber. Rig material is being held at New Plymouth in readiness to commence work on No. 2 well site as soon as the location has been fixed, which will probably be done during the first week in December by Mr F. G. Clapp, who will shortly return to New Plymouth.