EXPORTATION OF MEAT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5949, 20 March 1880, Page 5

EXPORTATION OF MEAT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Recently in New South Wales, I inspected the frozen meat on hoard the Stvathleven, and since then news has reoohed us of the successful result of the conveyance of meats prepared for and preserved by the Bell-Coleman process, and of the sale of fresh Australian beef ' and mutton in Smithfield Market, after a sixty days’ sea voyage. Impressed as I naturally am with the important bearing bn and to the interest? of the Colonies at large—and to.our stock-owners especially—which the opening up of- this tradomust have, I desire, with ypur permissionjjtp state some' facta, and offey ‘ some suggestions, which may ’ be worthy of some consideration, its to the . prhb&blff early effect this, new enterpiissi will'

have on our pastoral properties and on the Colony, generally. I am aware mat you have already devoted a good deal d space in jour columns to this subject, and that correspondents have given publicity to *ome interesting facta as to the possibility of establishing, and, once firmly established, the impossibility of limiting the moat trade While in Svrluev T learned from, those who took great interest in the develop* ment of the meat export much that convinces me that New Zealand may be almost in the •van, although we have not yet the advantages of steam communication to and from the Mother Country. The slaughtering of the animals, and the preparation of the carcases for shipment, has been similar to that for the butchers'shop. Experience has already suggested an alteration in this, and future shipments will be thoroughly frozen before being placed on - board. A suggestion has also been . that the slaughtered carcases should be frozen in their skins, in the belief that the meat would then have a fresher appearance on arrival and presentation to market, besides lessening the cost of dressing on this side. It is a moot point, however, whether the refrigerating process might not foil to penetrate the wool and skin. Perhaps the suggestion that comes from the English side, that carcases should be individnaUy packed in calico is the one most worthy of adoption. As to the meat chamber on board ship, the plan ■is simple, and cost of construction trifling ; it is in fact an icehouse built in the ’tween decks the temperature being secured by the usual process, and the blast penetrates into the chamber, and keeps the meat in its frozen state. Of course the consumption of refrigerating power is regulated by the atmosphere through which the ship is passing. This brings me to say there is no particular limit to the preservation of - the meat. It can be as well secured for 80 as for 60 days. That is a mere matter of expense to the carrier, and sailing vessels can be adapted to carry meat cargoes. The cost of the engine-power requisite will ran from £IOOO to £3000; but it is not improbable _ that this cost may ere long be diminished, and freights consequently reduced; The vast importance of the trade cannot be over-estimated. The consuming power of the English market is practically illimitable. Our supplying poweip are yearly and rapidly increasing, it is not a decade, since our ■sheep numbered under 5.000,000. At the end of 1876, we had 11,700,000, and in 1878 wo had 13,000,000. With such rapid increases, Sunder existing circumstances, surely we may reckon for larger flocks to supply this new market. It will no longer be the one sheep to the four acres, but the four sheep to the one acre, and a further industry will be promoted and extended the growth of root crops. Reflection will, I believe, lead every careful thinking man to my conclusion—that the discovery of this meat preserving process is fraught with the most beneficial results to the Colonies. Very soon we shall feel the impetus; an enormously increased export, an immensely improved and mere certain value to pastoral properties, and the reclamation and utilisation of a vastly extended acreage. It is to the interest of all to combine and accelerate New Zealand’s early participation in the benefits of this trade. It wants but proper initiation and a first start —private enterprise will follow it up and develop our resources for us. I suggest that the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce might very properly take the matter in hand without delay.—l am, &0., PROGRESS,