FROZEN MEAT INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1144, 3 June 1911, Page 8

FROZEN MEAT INDUSTRY.

SPEECH BY JIB. 3IASSEY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.)

Christchurcli, June 2. For some- years past it has been the custom of the Christchurcli Meat Company to invite farmers and others interested to take part in a day s outing at the Islington freezing works, and yesterday the members of tho Coiirtcnay A. and ]'. Association, together with a large number of Christchurcli Imsukks men foregathered there. Somo 250 persons must have been present ut the gathering, which was an unqualified success. The visitors were, first shown round a portion of the works', and were then entertained at lunch. In proposing the health of the president nnd secretary of tho Canterbury A. and P. Association, the chairman, Mr. F. I)e C. Jlalct, added the name of Mr. Jlassey. They did not, he said, intend to give the gathering a political turn, but Jlr. Massey wus a gentleman and they all knew him. (Applause.) Mr. Massey was received with loud and continued applause, and it was SDme moments before he could begin his speech. He said he had been greatly improved with the magnitude and completeness of the plant generally, its up-to-date-ness, iu< : iho quantity and quality of tho outpu,. He did not intend to talk party politics thrt afternoon, but he would ask them to coiisider that the prosperity of the country was not due to tho bulk of the Statute Bosk, a remark that was received with loud laughter. lie could not overestimate liie importance of the freezing industry, and ho would not liko to prophesy what would happen to New Zealand if the freezing business collapsed. They chould all give the credit not to the Government, but to the far-seeing men who, worked under great difficulties to inang«rato the freezing industry. The names which had appeared in the "Press - ram morning were almost household ones, and ths bearers of tlicm were worthy of all honour.

Jlr. Jlassey'? reference was to an article in tho "Press" dealing with tho inception of tho frozen meat industry. The honour of first shipping actual frown mutton and lamb from New Zealand to England, said the paper, must lie with Otago. Wellington, wo believe, followed next, and Canterbury third. In the early eighties tho success of the trial shipments of frozen meat from Australia emboldened some enterprising spirits in this city to take the matter up. One of the most active in the cause was Mr. Jno, Brydone, general manager of tho New Zealand and Australian Land Company, Dunedin, and he, acting under directions from his directors in London, put in hand the first trial shipment of frozen sheep and lambs from Port. Chalmers. The consignment was a great success, and the meat was delivered in London in good condition' and sold for the satisfactory price of 6Jd. per lb. Later on in May of the same, year the steamer Mataura sailed with a further consignment of frozen meat, arid Canterbury took up the industry with enthusiasm, and tho Belfast works were started: The first shipment of frozen meat from Canterbury wae taken Homo on April 8, 1683, by tho s'teamer British King. Tho consignment totalled 0193 carcasses of sheep and lambs, and the following gentlemen were the pioneer consignors:—Messrs. John Grigg (3541 carcasses). Jos. Haydon (99), Hav Bros. (94), E. 11. Ehodos. of South Canterbury 0351, ,T. C. IVason (130), B. Chapman (70), 31. Studholmo (186), Dudley and Norther (173), ,1. T. Matson '1251, 11. Overton (88). John Hurst (101), J. Gongh (19). W. Postlethwaitc (67), J. Deans (239), T. B'. Howson (47), New Zealand and Australian Land Company (480), ,T. Buddenklau (70), E. Elworthy (47), New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (150).