OUR MUTTON IN AMERICA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 859, 4 July 1910, Page 8

OUR MUTTON IN AMERICA.

A WAIL FBOH THE STATES. Evidently the Americans who trade extensively in mutton intend to frighten 'away from New York whatever New Zealand "frozen stuff" seems likely to. make ah appearance there. Early in April, .when mutton was dear in Now York and cheap in London, S9l carcasses of New Zealand frozen mutton wero resbipped .from London to the States. The innovation caused some of the American press 'to dilate on the possibilities of a regular INew Zealand trade, and thoy seemed to see no difficulties in the way: They even said that an extensive continuance would be made. Later American files show that it was not long before other were out upon the trail of the (enthusiasts. Some of the contentions iventilated' by the papers which decried fthe suggestion that there was a possibility jof New Zealand establishing a trado with libo States agree.with arguments cxpressjied by a local authority who was interiviewed on tho matter by a Dohiniox iiepresentativc. .. ' But other statements inado in the (American press are strange, to put it mildly— and these aro repeated so frequently that it seems that those particularly concerned are anxious to stifle ithe movement right away. It is not suggested that there is a movement of any .•magnitude for them to direct their hostility at; their idea really is that preTention is better than destruction. At present New Zealand does not attach a treat deal of importance to the matter, and that attitude is likely to be maiuItained 'until advices are received from [London. The New Zealand firms have sot heard from England yet, but have mil for information, ' In the opinions quoted below there will 3>e found statements which are quite reasonable and substantially in agreement jwith the views of New Zealand authorities, and other statements which are so jat variance with the facts of the ease Hlist they are evidently made solely with fthe intention of bolstering up the case tier the American trader.

iThe "Frozen, Foreign Stuff." "American sheep growers need have mo fear of permanent competition from tAustralia. New Zealand, or South Amcirica," said Robert S. Matheson, Swift and Co.'s expert. "A few thousand carcasses of the frozen, foreign stuff have jboen received at New York recently, but in very unusual condition in the domes(tic market has existed, and for the moment imports have been possible. I?«isponsiblo factors were an unprecedontly Siigh sheep market here, and a congestion of frozen mutton and a slumpy onarket in London." :' Mr. Holm, of the Sayers-Zohn -Comtaany (New York), stated a short time fogo that Australian mutton was .-vcatually a penny a pound cheaper than the ((domestic product, but Mr. Matheson says jrthat a farthing a pound would more accurately represent the difference, and he asserts that colonial mutton is_ not as good as American, and that high-class !l trade "will not look at it." The asper;Sion looks biased in face of the fact that ihe New Zealand mutton which -did find a way into New York was said to be "such meat as 'Americans have not had .the pleasure of feasting upon." Jlr. Matheson also said: "There is no [legitimate. demand for any considerable ■quantity of foreign mutton in'the' United States, and oven if suon demand-'existed fit could not be handled safely nor econlomically in hot weather. What has Wenched New York has merely been the ;«v-3rflow of -European markets. Austra3ian (he .uses "Australian" frequently,' fjbut apparently means "New Zealand") jjsuppry is only normal, and trade soon finds" its level. Recently Australian : frozen mutton was down to 3Jd. in Lon'<lon. Freight, and the duty of Jd. per fpound would make the New York cost .'about sd. per pound. Meanwhile the SLondon price is advancing, whjlb ours Ss declining."

importing Impossible. "Even at present prices hero and in London," he continued, "importing is hardly profitable, and just as soon as the domestic market gets down to a normal basis, which will be in tho near future, continuance of the frozen trado will bo impossible. Grass mutton will soon be available, and that will create an impassable wall. The average price of domestic <iressed mutton in New York during the last six months of 1309 was about 4jd., and during that period it would have boon impossible to soil the frozen stuff except at ridiculously low prices. This country is on a fresh meat basis, and tho • frozen article will never be handled except in periods of scarcity and cold weather, and then not by good trade. During the past winter (that is,-the New ■York winter) home-dressed mutton went to 7Jd., which will explain why New York got a few thousand carcasses of frozen sheep. Last summer the Australian article was a drug on the London market, selling as low as 2d. per pound. that time home-dressed mutton was ■worth 4d. to l}d. in New York, but even if frozen meat could have been handled in hot weather it could not have com ■pefced successfully with the domestic product even at the prices quoted." Mr. Matheson's comment on his own ;figures is not reasonable. Those who could afford to pass by good colonial mutton for a "domestic product" which would cost them two cents per pound (more are in a tremendous minority.

Real Cause of the Wail. Jesse Davis, who is described as "sheep expert for Armour," took a similar view, and in tho course of his remarks Baid: "I would not want any of my money tied up in frozen mutton landed at New York in hot weather. Special facilities are necessary to keep it frozen, and the retail butcher will never provide himself ■with such." Jesse Davis, sheep expert,. was hard pressed for an argument when he talked of retail butchers providing special cool storage accommodation. Even though New Zealand has not at present any serious hope of establishing a regular trade with tho cities of a country bo vast that it should be able to grow many times enough mutton to satisfy tho requirements of its own populaces, it makes one think that the States men of commerce fear competition from the colonies. And there is a certain amount of reason why they should, for while our meat can be placed in New York at a cost covering duty and freight of ljd., manipulators cannot force up tho New York market more than that amount' above tho London market. So while our prospects of getting on to tho States markets are not rosy, and consequently are not taken very seriously by us, the fact that a diverting from London of some of our produce can-prevent a maintenance of high prices in New York is viewed with annoyance by Americans. Now Zealand mutton may be reckoned as averaging 3.? d. in London, which price is equal to sd. in New York. During tho last American winter the price of mutton went as high as 7id. And the speculators realise that unless they can effectually ridicnle the general idea, and spread broadcast a condemnation of our m«at they have to face this: that immediately tho price of their homo-grown mutton goes above, say, sd. they have to contend with the competition of tho colonial supplies, whicK can be rushed across the Atlantic in a few days, and, therefore, a long run of high prices could not ,be effected.