WELLINGTON MEAT EXPORT CO.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 50, 27 August 1895, Page 3

WELLINGTON MEAT EXPORT CO.

The sixth annual meeting of the Welling, ton Meat Export Company was held in the Chamber of Commoroo this afternoon. Mr, W. Booth, Chairman of Directors, presided, and in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet (which have alroady been published) said that on the whole th» oompany might be congratulated on the fact that although the year had been one of considerable difficulties, it was possible to show a profit of over .£6OOO The building* and plant burnt more than 12 months ago had been re erected, and had been nsed with every satisfaction. The subject of the frozen meat trade was one which provoked endleßS disoussion, and he did not propose to deal with it now^-tra it would be discussed at the' Conference oonvened by the Govt-rii-ment for tho sth prox. He trusted that aa a result of the Conference some of the evils of the trade would ba remedied. The chilled maat^ trade had developed sinoe the last meeting. The company provided some of the. meat sent by the Gothio's last trip, and there were complaints about its quality. 'Ihe fault, however, was not with tho company but with those who had to ship the meat. The company was now preparing another shipment for the Gothic, and hoped to be able w» make a better arrangement than before. Wollington mutton waa improving year by year, and although it waß still not all that could be desired,- it was not so bad aa had been represented in certain quarters. It must be recollected that Wellington bieeders grew more for wool than- for mutton. Wellington had a large market of its own, and n market which oould absorb all the second olass mutton that could be placed on it. The mutton, although eecond-olass, was really beautiful mutton. A great deal Of the discredit which it had been sought to J attach to Wellington mutton was quits undeserved.. The mutton was of good qdality, and was sent away in nice condition, but the trouble began after it left the works As a rule the oarcases were knocked out of shape, and their selling value thereby deteriorated. | The company was in no way responsible for snob, a Btate of affaire, and he trusted that the coming conference would bring about an alteration. Mr. Booth conoluded by Btating that arrangements were being mado to abate the nuisance from the smoke-slack of the works at Waterloo-qnay, and also to reduoe the consumption of coal from 15 tons to 2} tons a day. The motion was seconded by Mr. C. Pharazyn, who has just returned from London, bpeoking of his observations at Home, he emphasised tile necessity of sending away only sheep of the best quality. The sheep grown in Wellington were muoh inferior to those from Canterbury, Mutton of much better quality was now being placed on the English market than used to be sent there, and Wellington farmers must keep paoe with the times. He was glad there ,was to be a conference, but- none of the combinations or grand schemes which the public heard about would bring up the prices. Our mutton must be pushed. Although prices were low, he did not think that there was a time when the ! trade had been on such a sound footing. Mr. D. J. Nathan maintained that the country oould not flourish unless products sent away were of the very best duality. Mr W. T. L. Travera oited the prosperity of the Danish butter industry as being due to the faot tbat only an article of the best quality was sent away, and that the industry was assisted in every possible way by the Government. He felt sure that if care was taken to export beef and mutton of only the best quality, New Zealand would have nothing' to fear {ram other oountriest The motion was agreed to. Messrs. W. O. Foater and j. W; Marshall were re-elected direotors. Messrs. C. I*. Powles and D. T. Stuart were re-elected auditors. The directors were voted an honorarium of £250. Votes of thanks to the staff and the Chairman conoluded the business.