SHIPMENT OF MEAT TO ENGLAND

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 929, 28 March 1868, Page 3

SHIPMENT OF MEAT TO ENGLAND

(Abridged from the" Sydney Morning Herald " of Feb. 29.) On Tuesday, Feb. 4, a meeting of gentlemen interested in the success of a project for shipment of surplus meat to England (under what is usually known as " Mr. Mort's Freezing Process"), was held in the Chamber of Commerce, at the Sydney Exchange ; the Hon. Charles Cowper in the chair. Nearly 300 of the most influential portion of the community were in attendance, a large number of the names of whom were placed upon the committee, formed shortly before the close of the proceedings. The Chairman said ' it would, perhaps, be desirable that he should make a few observations on what they were about to discuss — something in which they were all deeply interested — the success of Mr. Mort's project for the shipment of meat to England by means of a newly-invented refrigerating process. It had been required that some person should be found to siep forward competent to initiate such an undertaking, and with sufficient enterprise to see whether Mr. Nieolle's discovery could be made practically available. That person had been found in their valued friend and fellow-colonist, Mr. T. S. Mort, who had kindly intimated his willingness to attend ana explain his views. The time had arrived when the boilingdown process was no longer that by which it was desirable for them to dispose of their surplus stock, in the face of the fact that there was a. , sustained demand for meat in England, which it might be possible for the colony to supply. It was with a view to the furtherance of this idea that Mr. Augustus Morris had already gone to England. They all felt that Mr. Mort ought not to be left to carry out this great enterprise alone, without that co-operation and encouragement which they were all desirous of giving him. No one could see that meeting — perhaps the most influential which had ever been assembled in that room — and not feel convinced that the importance of Mr. Mort's enterprise was generally and duly appreciated, and that it was earnestly hoped in this community that it might be carried to a successful, issue. Perhaps some in that room might remember when the principle of boiling down cattle was introduced into this colony ; that had been a means which had afforded a great and important relief to cattle holders, in respect of their surplus stock, but the change now proposed to be made by Mr. Mort s enterprise for the shipment of artificially frozen meat was something far more important. He did not hesitate to express his belief that they would be enabled, by the discovery to which he had alluded, effectually to bridge over the gulf that now lay between the over-supply of cattle in this colony and ijho meat market of the old country. If the project so nobly planned could only be carried to a successful issue, no honor would be too great to confer upon that citizen by whose spirited enterprise and foresight the difficulties inseparable from the initiation of the idea had been met with and overcome.

The Chairman and some other gentlemen then left the room, and after the lapse of a few minutes returned with Mr. T. S. Mort, whose appearance was received with applause. Mr. Mort said he was of course personally interested in the general utilisation of this freezing process ; but when that was.siaid it must also be remembered that his friends, Mr. Morris and Mr. Nicolle, were likewise deeply interested therein,— the former having given great attention to the carrying out of the idea,and the latter being its actual discoverer. The process which had been erroneously alluded to as " Mr. Mort's Freezing Process " was, in fact, not his at all ; the discovery was Mr. Nicolle's — the gentleman who then sat beside him — his was only the enterprise — the practical application of the discovery which the genius of Mr. Nicolle had perfected. At the time that he (Mr. Mort) had been engaged in investigating a process for preserving meat which had been discovered by Mr. Blaxland, this refrigerating scheme had been suggested to him by Mr. Morris, but he had not then paid much attention to the idea. Subsequently, however, on finding that Mr. Blaxland's plan for preserving meat could not be made available to the extent that he desired, he had more fully entertained an idea of the freezing process, and Mr. Nicolle's gradually perfected apparatus had been the result. To the great Faraday they were indebted for the principle which Mr. Mcolle had so successfully applied. It was twenty-eight years since it; had been discovered by that eminent chemist that cold might be obtained by the liquefaction of ammonia, and now there was every reason to believe that that principle might be so beneficially applied as to promote the well-being of thousands. Gentlemen had waited on him (Mr. Mort) to acquaint him with their desire that he should accept at their hands some assistance in his enterprise. Now, he wished it to be understood that he had taken this up as a mercantile speculation, and could do nothing which would interfere with that position. These gentlemen said they wished for their own sakes to further the enterprise by assistance. They asked him to accept at their hands as much meat as he was prepared to take home, and they would pay the freight of the same. Having commenced this as a mercantile enterprise, he had no right to expect anything from them at all. He did not say this because he was indifferent to the great interests of the country. He would not have gone into this matter if he had in view no benefit beyond his own pocket. But it was to \ all intents a mercantile enterprise, and he could not — he spoke it without any disrespect — alter his position in relation to it. He would not have it said hereafter — "Mr. Mort, we came forward and helped you, and we are entitled to some control." He put the case pointedly now, because he wished his position to be understood. But if they wished to press this matter forward more quickly than he for his own interest would push it forward; if they did not like to wait twelve months before sending home a cargo — and if they put it before him in such a manner as not to make him uncomfortable —he would highly appreciate their help. (Cheers.) A meeting like this could not be assembled without impressing on him a sense of how much he owed them for their,kindness and good-will towards the enterprise. He believed it was their desire to be informed as to his views with reference to the best and most efficient mode of carrying it out. His idea was that to bring it to a successful issue it would be necessary to go to work on a considerable scale. A mere experiment of 50 tons would not, owing to the prejudices existing in England, be recognised in that mercantile spirit by which it was necessary it should be met in order to convince people of the value of the process in a commercial point of view. Almost anything could be carried out as an experiment if money enough was spent upon it j but in this experiment they had not only to show that they could send the meat of these colonies to England, but that they could send it as a mercantile success; and to do this they ought to send at the first not less than 250 to 300 > tons v. If;, Mr. JSficolle and he were not mistaken, and nothing untoward occurred, ;-in ;ia,bout six weeks, or at most two months,

he would be in a position to say — " If you are ready with the meat, we are ready with the freezing apparatus and the cylinders for the meat. ' If they would be so good as to entrust the meat to his care, his first object on arriving in England would be to realise to the extent of their outlay, which should be repaid to them, and the balance of the meat would be taken by him (Mr. Mort) to distribute through England and France, so as to make the enterprise as widely known as possible. (Cheers.) The success of this enterprise depended largely on meeting the prejudices of the people of England with full proof of the quality of the meat that could be supplied. Mr. Morris, in a letter received by last mail, while stating that no invention of the kind had been thought of in Europe, had informed him that a very strong prejudice existed against meat preserved by means of cold, and that nothing but experience would convince the people of England that meat so kept would not putrefy immediately after thawing. He (Mr. Mort) had read and otherwise ascertained the cause of such putrefaction. Albumen in combination with water, of all substances, most easily becomes putrid. When a beast is killed in a cold climate the pores are very quickly sealed up by the cold. It neither bleeds properly nor " breathes" properly. All who have watched a beast on a cool day after it was killed must have observed the vapour which rose from it — that is called breathing. Now, in a freezing climate, both the vapour and the blood are congealed in the beast ; and the albumen of the blood combining with water forms a substance which readily decomposes. But in our case, a beast is killed in a climate in which it is allowed to bleed properly and to breathe properly, and they knew for a fact that no such consequences followed in the meat frozen by Mr. Nicolle's plan. Meat which had been kept for months in their cylinder, and afterwards hung for days, had been eaten by those present, and they could testify to it being as fresh and palatable, as fresh meat, and that no change whatever was perceptible in it — the sole operation of this process being, in fact, to arrest all change. Their experiments showed that their frozen meat had an advantage of from twelve to sixteen hours over meat fresh from the butcher. A strong prejudice exists also in London against the mutton of this colony, and he had lately seen an extract from the Times in the Sycl/ney Morning Herald, saying that our " inferior mutton" would have to be much improved before the English people would eat it. Now, in the first place, he was at a loss to know what opportunity they could have had of forming this judgment ; and next he maintained that our small mutton was equal to the finest produced in England. Still there were these prejudices to contend with ; and he felt that in order to enable him to combat them successfully, he could with a good grace accept any balance of meat there niiglit remain after the sale of that which might be required for the repayment of the outlay contemplated by the promoters of this meeting. It would be necessary to give away a great deal ; indeed, success could only be attained within any reasonable period of time by extensively disseminating it through England and France ; and he would here beg to say that whoever may have the selection of the meat must take the greatest care that the quality shall properly represent our production. And now, as to the probable cost of the process per pound. He had gone into the calculation very carefully, and the result he had arrived at was, that after paying all expenses, including freight, working expenses, interest on the cost of machinery, and cylinders, it would, if carried out on a large scale, amount to somewhere about Id. per lb. If that was correct, there could be no question that the shipment of meat from here was a possible thing. The Times published a round robin by some butchers who stated that they were paying on the average for joints of beef in June, Bsd. ; in July, B|d. ; in August, B|d. ; in September, Bjd. ; in October, B|d. ; and for rumpsteaks and loins, in June lOd. ; in July, lOd. ; in August, 9^d. ; in September, 9d. ; in October, 9^d. ; in November, 9f d. With an expense of only a penny a lb. we have a magnificent margin for profit left. (Cheers.) There are in England thirty millions of people, in France thirty-five millions. There are in the colonies forty millions of sheep. The average increase of forty millions is eight millions. Take off two millions for our home consumption (much less than what it really is) and that leaves six millions to be shipped for England and France. That would be only one-tenth of a sheep per annum for each individual. They could not possibly overdo those markets. If we were prepared to send home all our surplus mutton — and he took no account of the beef, as that would not be much — we could not make an impression on those two countries. We could not do away with the use of horseflesh. Mr. Morris had bad a long talk with Mr. Larnach and Mr. Campbell Tertius, and they said that if the plan was at all what he represented it to be there would be no difficulty in carrying it out by a company. In fact, there is at present no topic that excites more interest in England and France than tbis meat question ; and the feeling is very strong that meat must be obtained from Australia and elsewhere by some means or other. The scientific world would give them aid, the Society of Arts would give them their Gold Medal. All depended, continued Mr. Morris' letter, on starting from Sydney and arriving in England with a cargo of well-preserved meat. All their troubles and anxieties would then cease. (A laugh.) Some other letters did not speak quite so hope- | fully. There is great difficulty in pressing anything forward in England, in the present depressed state of things, and the general want of confidence. His (Mr. Mort's) brother, a very cautious man, told him if he went horne — as he conceived he must do — he should go armed with every testimonial he could possibly bring. Now, no better testimonial could go before the British public than the one they were proposing to give, and no greater proof of confidence could be given than that they were willing to entrust him not only with their property, but with the conduct of an enterprise, on the successful carrying out of which so much depended. In a matter of such great and universal interest, ho thought our Legislature might well step forward. He held in his hand a copy of a bill to provide for the exportation of meat from Queensland. They offered 10,000 acres of land to the man who first landed 100 tons of uncooked meat in England. There was a bonus at ouce. And it would be no small advantage in forming a company for the carrying out of this scheme, to be able to hold out an inducement of this description from New South Wales. Things of tho kind ought to bo largely supported, and it would be well that such an inducement should be in readiness to offer to any company of capitalists who might be found willing to enter upon the development of this all-im-portant business. As regarded his accompanying this experimental venture, he must be allowed to say that no money consideration could of itself tempt him to do it at this time. He could only do so at the expense of much personal inconve-

nieuce and domestic sacrifice, and at the risk also of considerable pecuniary loss. It might be that he would reap a good reward out of this enterprise ; eventually, he believed he should, but any gain which might result, must, under the most favourable circumstances, with the plans he hacl in view, be distant, and entirely dependent upon the future success of those who might embark in the undertaking. He should, however, be buoyed up by a sense of the great benefit he would, as a colonist, share in common with others, as well as by the pleasurable feeling which attaches to benefits going beyond oneself. And amongst the pleasures he anticipated in the realisation of this scheme, not the least would be the credit that would be reflected on Australia by the genius of Mr. Nicolle. He deemed it to be an achievement of which the colonies might fairly be proud, that in spite of the greater necessity that existed for an invention of this description in England, for it must be remembered that there their bellies are pinched, while here only our pockets suffer — that the j>la n should be evolved in New South Wales. He would not further detain them than to thank them very sincerely for the hearing they had given him, and to assure them that the great interest evinced by them in the undertaking would be the strongest incentive to Mr. Nicolle and himself to carry it on, if possible, with more spirit than ever ; and he wished them also to be assured that if on the completion of their board-ship apparatus, he (as well as they themselves) did not feel thoroughly satisfied of its power to fulfil the conditions required of it, he would not allow one shilling of their money to be risked on his enterprise. He felt sure that the transport of fresh meat would not be the only advantage to be derived from the power of obtaining cold. It would prove to be a mighty agency—the opening up of a great avenue for industry, with roads branching from it on every side. He confidently believed that if cold could be obtained at the price he expected, the social condition of the Old World would be altered, and the necessaries and comforts of life brought to every man's door at a rate hitherto unknown.

A vote of thanks to Mr. Mort for his valuable explanation was then passed.

Mr. Mort, in acknowledging the compliment, said if there was a failure, it would not be his fault but his misfortune. Since sitting down, he had been asked what would be the effect upon wool freights if meat became an article of export? In answering, he might say, that commerce would be sure to right itself; but as the matter, if. rightly worked out, might, in his opinion, be turned to colonial advantage, he would, with the permission of the meeting, answer the question more fully. If the holds were taken up by meat they would doubtless require more 'tween-deck room. In rough arithmetic, two 'tweendecks would make one hold, and it would, therefore, be necessary to double our shipping to provide room for wool. That settled the question on this side of the water. The question then arose, how shall we fill the extra ships with outward freight for England, as ordinary cargo would not be forthcoming for the immense amount of shipping ; and, if vessels came out halfladen, return freights would certainly bo called upon to make up for the loss ? To,, a small extent freights would doubtless increase, as many deliveries — such as fish, game, &c. — would find their way out, but as a rule the holds would carry all the cargo the colonies could take, and these goods could be stowed in the meat cylinders. But -his -(Mr.- Mort's) idea was to fill the 'tween decks with living freight, and so make our operations to have a double blessing attached to them — that of bringing the people to the meat as well as taking the meat to the people. Both the late and the present Governments had initiated plans favourable to immigration, which we all knew was life-blood to the colonies. Even the working classes, who had so long held false notions on the subject, were beginning to see that every man who comes into the country gives something for those to do who are already in it. Our respected chairman, Mr. Cowper, understood the matter well, and he (Mr. Mort) remembered Mr. Cowper calling his attention to a statistical paper which he (Mr. Cowper) had drawn up, showing how wages had fallen or risen, according to the numbers of fresh arrivals ©n our shores — those years in which the greatest number of people had arrived showing the highest rate of wages. With the help of the Government, therefore, these 'tween decks might be available for immigration purposes ; and as fresh meat could be supplied at about half the cost of preserved provisions, immigrants could be brought out at a much lower rate than heretofore ; and if they were allowed to pay a portion of their pas-sage-money, and the Government would supplement the amount by a £10 land order for each person landed, our prosperity would be increased and our shipping difficulties overcome. In this way he answered the question of his friend, Mr. Forlonge.

Sir W. Manning, in moving a resolution to the effect that a committee of gentlemen be appointed to co-operate with Mr. Mort, observed that Mr. Mort had modestly claimed little merit for higher views than such as belong particularly to " commercial enterprise." But he (Sir W. Manning) ventured to state, as of his certain knowledge, derived from abundant opportunities for judgment, that, "public spirit " was at the bottom, and had been the mainspring and sustaining principle of his persevering energy and liberality of expenditure on his object. His (Sir W. Manning's) apprehension had been that the earnestness of Mr. Mort's ambition lo be the author of great advantages to the public might mislead him into over-san-guine conclusions as to the prospects of commercial success. No doubt, the hope of personal benefit to himself and the gentlemen with whom he was associated had not been absent ; but that had not proved the really animating motive. He (Sir W. Manning) had been allowed opportunities of looking closely into the process in question, and been watchful of the practical difficulties which seemed from time to time to stand in the way of success ; but he had arrived at the conviction that the process was a certain success on land, and there was but a shadow of a doubt of its ' succeeding under the strains and trials of a lengthened passage at sea. But still the matter was not yet past the stage of experiment, and that which was immediately before them was a costly oue. And he conceived that nothing could be more reasonable and just than that others than Mr. Mort of those interested in the experiment of a trial shipment should join in such cost. Mr. Mort had said something to the effect that he should not be willing to receive assistance in the matter unless tendered in a form which would not be " uncomfortable " to himself. He (Sir W. Manning) thought that there was no occasion for any delicacy in the matter. The scheme, if successful, would no doubt bring tho greatest individual returns to Mr. Mort himself. These might prove an. ample fortune to him, but tho public df this country would, in the aggregate, benefit fifty-fold. Why then should they not, in some form, contribute to the cost of an experiment in which so much depended for themselves. He (Sir W. Manning) was one of those" who considered that it

would be no infringement upon free trade principles, rightly, understood, for the Legislature itself to encourage and aid, bysome sort of bonus, the earlier efforts, of individuals towards the development of new industries, or in any direction calculated largely to promote the public wealth. Such efforts have been, arid always will be, but too commonly made under difficulties which render them disastrous to their originators, however beneficial they may ultimately become to tho public. Failure upon failure attends their experiments, until they, perhaps, fall exhausted, after maturing their ideas and conquering the practical difficulties which experience only can disclose and overcome. And then, as history has so frequently shewn, the men to whom the work! owes some of the most valuable discoveries, languish in poverty, whilst their successors and the public are reaping what they have sown. To the extent of covering this common incident to the origination of any valuable discovery, he (Sir William Manning) thought the public might well interpose, without risk of incurring those consequences which free traders apprehend from protection. . In this particular matter there were three parties, so to speak, interested in the proposed experiment: — The patentees themselves in their degree, the stockholders and general public of these colonies, - and the distant peoples whose markets would be supplied with more abundant and cheaper animal food. Each might reasonably take a share in the cost. The last, indeed, cannot be reached, but all in these colonies who now recognise the importance of a productive oxitlet for our superfluous stock, may well give their aid without any thought of placing Mr. Mort under a sense of personal obligation. It would be in their own interests that they would do so — as a wise investment for their own advantage, and not by way of favour to Mr. Mort.

Mr. Alexander Stuart seconded the resolution for the appointment of a committee, and remarked : — The large committee was an omen of success. There was a very widespread interest in the matter. With regard to the effect of this enterprise on wool-carrying ships, they might safely leave that to adjust itself. They knew of no country which suffered from a plethora of productions. Many a ship which came here had been unable to get cargo. They were glad to get a cargo hence at a very low rate — or to go to China or India for a cargo. The present time was exceptional. The wool all came down within two months, instead of being spread over a much longer period.

Treasurers and Secretaries were then appointed.

Mr. Jules Joubert then rose and spoke as follows : — ln tho speech addressed to this meeting by Mr. T. S. Mort, that gentleman mentions the populations of both France and England, in order to give us an accurate idea of the large markets we may be called upon to supply with meat, in the event of Mr. Mort's freezing process being carried out to a satisfactory issue. Iv naming the population of France, Mr. Mort neglects to call your attention to a fact, probably ignored by him, and, I dare say, by tho majority of the gentlemen present. I mean, therefore, to bring before your notice the very important difference existing between England and France, as far as real consumption of meat is concerned. In England, beef and mutton, although —as stated by Mr. Morris to Mr. Mort, and by Mr. A. Hodgson — selling at Bd. and lOd. per lb., still it is to be seen on every man's table. The bulk of the English enjoy the " luxury." Luxury it is in the country districts of France. As a native of that country, and one who has seen much of its country life, I can assure this meeting that not only in the lower classes, but in the middle classes in France, meat is scarcely put on the table above once a week, and then looked upon quite as a luxury. It is an historical fact that .King Henry IV., when besieging Paris, offered as a bait to the citizens of that capital, to provide sayoule aupot, or the pot cm feu, which we can readily translate into "piece of beef." Many years have elapsed, several dynasties have succeeded the " Jolly King," monarchies, republics, and Imperial Governments are full of promises, but, in 18G7 the most that has been achieved is, the retailing of horse flesh at lOd. per lb. I consider, gentlemen, that the admirable scheme entered into by Mr. T. S. Mort, in which you seem all to join so heartily, will achieve for my counti'ymen more than has ever been done by our Government, and I feel sure. that the promoters of such an undertaking will be looked upon in France as public benefactors. lam proud indeed to think that this great boon should emanate from New South Wales — and I hope I may be allowed, in conclusion, to say — doubly proud to see that my worthy and esteemed coun-try-man, Nicolle, should have been the inventor of the process which you so warmly support.

A meeting of the general committee, appointed at the public meeting of Fob. 4, was held on Feb. 27, at the Sydney Exchange, at 3 o'clock, for the purpose of receiving the report of the executive committee. The Hon. Charles Cowper was called to the chair.

The Chairman said that, in compliance ■with the terms of the last l'esdlution of a previous meeting, the executive committee had brought xip a report as to the progress which had been made by them in the impoi'tant matter with which they had Leon specially entrusted. He was happy to have to state that they had met with a very considerable amount of success, although they had not been able to do much more than get through what might be considered as preliminary proceedings. The honorary secretary would now lay before them what had been done during the first month of their existence, and he believed that report would shew there was every reason to hope that they would soon be in a position to fulfil that portion of the arrangement they had undertaken in regard to shipment of a cargo of meat under Mr. Mort's freezing process. He might, perhaps, suggest that it would be advisable for them to agree to hold a meeting of the general committee such as that, every month, just before the departure of tho mail, in order that, from the report of their proceedings, their friends at home might be kept apprised of what they were doing. He begged to call upon the secretary to read the report. •The honorary secretary then read the following report of the executive committee : — " We held our first mectiug on the 7th insfc., and since then we have met five times. At these meetings we have had considerable discussions upon the steps to be taken for furthering the object of the committee. The secretaries have addressed the sub-committees in Victoria and Queensland, and your executive committee has had personal conference with members of tho general committee, who will organise the intercolonial and sub-committees and set them in operation. From various quarters your executive committee has received assurances that pecuniary co-operation to a considerable extent might be expected from the adjoining colonies, but the visit of His lioyal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh to Queensland>must postpone any active proceedings for a few days. The secretaries have also issued a circular, a copy of

which is appended. This communication has been addressed to about five hundred gentlemen soliciting their money contrjutions; and your executive committee has the satisfaction of reporting that upwards of £2500 have been already subscribed by the institutions, and gentlemen whose names are stated in the subjoined list. The treasurers have published a notice, requesting that the promised subscriptions be paid into the Oriental Bank, Sydney. Your executive committee invited Mr. Mort to a conference with a view to ascertaining that gentleman's intentions in regard to future arrangements. Mr. Mort kindly attended, and entered into the fullest explanation. It is difficult to form any idea that can be relied on as to the time when the cargo of meat should be ready for shipment, but your executive committee estimate that it is probable (should no unforscen event of an improbable character occur) that the shipment of a portion will take place in June, and that ten tons per diem can be taken on board. The cai'go ought, according to the estimates, to be ready for exportation during the month of July, and it will therefore be necessary for the friends of this enterprise to use every exertion that the funds required may be collected without delay."

The Chairman said that the executive committee desired to ask for further instructions for their future guidance from the general committee. He believed that the members of that committee would see that the executive committee had done what they could for the promotion of the enterprise, and that their efforts had, so far, been attended with success. He was very sorry, however, to hear that Mr. Nicolle, the inventor of the process, was suffering from indisposition, a circumstance which had to some extent interfered with their arrangements in respect of the preparation and completion of the requisite machinery. That machinery was, nevertheless, in a state of forwardness, and would, as he believed, be finished in the course of a few days. It had been suggested that the meat to be prepared for shipment ought to be cut up into joints, in order that it might arrive in England in its most marketable shapej and the executive committee intended to consult some of the leading Sydney butchers on that subject. During the month that would elapse before the next meeting of the general committee ample opportunity would, of course, be afforded for a due consideration and settlement of this matter of detail. He believed that their subscription list was now much nearer £3000 than £2000. The report was drawn up, as they would doubtless have observed, two or three days ago, and subscriptions were coming in every hour.

The report was put to the meeting and adopted.