FROZEN MEAT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7225, 26 April 1884, Page 6

FROZEN MEAT.

TO THE EWTOK. Sib, —The subjoined-letter from our London correspondents no doubt will be read with, satisfaction, especially so as it contains a novel idea of advertising our mutton.—We are, &e., H. MATSON & CO., Stock Agents. " 3, Great Winchester street, London, E.C., March 4,1884. " Messrs H. Matson and Co., Christehurch, Canterbury, N.Z. " Dear Sirs, —Frozen Mutton.—Our Birmingham salesmen write as follows respecing the lot they have sold to date -. —' The sheep in themselves all as good as they can be in 'size and quality; their condition is also very good and suitable for this market. We should suggest that the shoulders be left plain and not tucked back.' The market here has been good—up to 4s—but to-day's price is not more than 3s lOd for the best, or on average 3s 8d to 3s 9d. We have been making sales in the provinces at 6d to 6£d per lb, and if we can only rely on getting regular supplies from the Colonies, we believe we can go on selling in the provinces at better prices than those ruling in London. This matter is receiving our special attention, and we hope that our proposal has been favourably responded to. Although the provincial salesmen's commission is in some cases greater; still we find their nett results of sales are, on the whole, better than in London. We are trying to get the provincial commission reduced from Is a carcase to something nearer the London charge; but, in the first instance, being a good outlet for some of the sheep, we thought it better to sell and introduce the trade, and then arrange the rate of commission afterwards., We attended a meeting yesterday, at the offices of the AgentGeneral for New Zealand, who had invited us and other importers, for the purpose of considering the proposal made by him to the Council of the International Health Exhibition, which is to be held at South Kensington this year, for the inauguration of a ' cheap grill' of New Zealand mutton, similar to the ' cheap fish dinner,' which was so successful at the Fisheries Exhibition last year. Believing that the AgentGeneral's idea, if carried out, will be an excellent advertisement for the New Zealand frozen mutton trade, we agreed to join the other importers to become guarantors to the extent of J 250 each, to secure the Council of the Exhibition against possible loss. We personally suggested that 'the proposal should extend beyond a ' cheap grill/ and should really be a bond fide ' New Zealand meat dinner/ so that those portions of a carcase which cannot be used in the grill might be made into Irish stow, &c. This idea was approved, and it was thought that 6d ought to be charged for the Now Zealand meat dinner.—We remain, yours truly, " Rkdfebn, Alexander & Co."