The Lyttelton Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1893.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIX, Issue 9992, 22 March 1893, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1893 .

Me John Cooke, who is revisiting Canterbury after a prolonged sojourn on the other side of tha Tasman Sea, has supplied some very interesting particulars of the Australian frozen meat trade and its relation to our own pastoral pursuits. He takes a decidedly cheerful vi&w of the prospects of this Colony, but shows that we have been mistaken ia some of our ideas of the requirements and intentions of our neighbours. We are not likely.it seems, to reap any immediate advantage from the opening of Australian porta to How Zealand sheep. The breeders of the island Continent are not anxious to draw to any extent upon our stud flocks, and it ia very doubtful if sheep raised on the soft pastures of New Zealand would thrive under the conditions which prevail in Australia. This is a disappointment, but while the prices ia this Colony maintain their present level our breeders will have very little reason to deplore the absence of a foreign demand for their stock. It is, however, rather surprising to find tha Governments of Tasmania and New South Wales raising obstacles to the importation of New Zealand sheep. The representatives of those Colonies at the recent Stock Conference in Wellington, were understood to be in favour of the removal of the old barriers which were set up, years ago, to prevent the introduction of scab. Indeed, these barriers were actually removed, and it is difficult to believe that the gentlemen who counselled their removal are now urging their respective Governments to make the presence of the bot-fly in New Zealand an excuse for ro-impoaing the restrictions. Victoria was not represented at the Stock Conference, and is so deeply committed to a policy of Protection peculiarly her own, that no one will wonder at her disinclination to welcome New Zealand competition. But the exclusion of our sheep from Australia is after all a small matter compared with the possibilities of our frozen meat trade, and Mr Cooke has shown by a plain statement of simple facts that our business with the great market of the world is not at all likely to be affected by the extension of the Australian trade. Our neighbours will seek another market. The great bulk of their export must consist of merino meat, which will never be sold side by side with prime New Zealand mutton. It will find its way to Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and other great provincial towns, where there ia always an unsatisfied demand for cheap, wholesome food. Thera will, of course, be a certain proportion, probably a small one, of superior cross-bred mutton sent from Australia, but this will make a market for itself and be absorbed without affecting the price or New Zealand mea,t. The conclusion to be drawn from Mr Cooke’s comprehensive sketch of the position is that wa shall he secure in the possession of the best part of the market so long as we maintain the high character of our product. The supremacy of this Colony depends entirely upon the skill of our breeders and tbe good sense and good faith of our shippers. If our meat should ever be allowed to drop a certain standard of excellence ‘it will go into direct competition with the enormous supplies which will be poured into England from Australia and Eiver Plato; while it maintains its present character it will be a source of ever growing wealth to the farmers of the Colony.