RABBIT EXPORT INDUSTRY

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20905, 12 July 1933, Page 14

RABBIT EXPORT INDUSTRY

I EAHLY OPERATIONS. I . The export of tinned rabbits was u thriving industry in Southland in the •nineties of last century. It is difficult to believe to-day that there was a period when special rabbit trains were run on certain branch lines to bring the rabbits into the factories. A Mataura business man, Mr John Taylor, engaged in the early rabbit export, trade, came across some of his records the other day. showing that the first shipment was on July 7, 1894—39 years ago. The Ruahine on that date sailed with 55 cases from the Bluff, 45 of which were on account of Mr Taylor, and 10 on account of the late Mr T. R. Tanner, then resident at Riversdale, and who later took up his residence at Clarence Bridge. Later shipments were made on July 23 of the same year. Freezing charges at the time were 2d lb. freight Is Od per foot and primage 10 per cent. Incidentally freight, insurance, freezing and storage charges at the present time entail an outlay considerably in advance of those levied in the days when experimental shipments were made by this enterprising Mataura businessman. In spite of fluctuating markets and the fact that people at Home were somewhat sceptical of rabbits in a frozen state, a Mr Webb, who was engaged in the Smithfield market undertook the disposal of the initial shipments, and gradually he built up a remunerative trade which lasted until 191", when the prolonged strite in Europe dislocated the industry. Mr Taylor mentioned to a reporter last week that he had made a trip to the Old Country in 1891, when his attention was directed to a trial shipment of rabbits opened up on account of a Mr McDonald (Dunedin). He immediately saw where the packing and general appearance of the rabbits could be made more attractive to the prospective consumer and on coming back to the Dominion in 1893 he advertised for carcases, paying 4id to 5d per pair.