The Continental Frozen Meat Trade through Belgium.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 169, 20 January 1888, Page 3

The Continental Frozen Meat Trade through Belgium.

Prom the Chris! church Press, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 1388. When the preserved meat trade was pushed some time ago it did not spread so much in fifteen years as the frozen meat did these lasi fifteen months. The prominent reasons are not only the greater freshness and quulity ot the latter, but the duties put lately on both fresh slaughtered and frozen meat by several governments. The fact that frozen meat had to pay at once duty as fresh meat when the tinned or other preserved meats were always free has done more in the public mind than one would believe. Even prepared by the best process of preserving, the people never have considered the tinned meat as good as fresh, because the European Governments did not charge it as real fresh meat; its use was consequently limited for the armies, navies, or public institutions. In England itself tho preserved meat has always been sold by grocers or produce merchants, and never in butchers’ shops, like tho frozen meat for family purposes. Most of the continental people

who were uncertain about tho quality of the frozen meat are now perfectly convinced of tho freshness, on account of the Government authorities oonsidering it as such. Since the Ist of January, 1888, the Belgium Government have put a duty on both fresh and frozen foreign meat, which arc accepted only in full or half carcases, or in forequarters at the least, after the inspection of a sanitary otyicor. Tho duty is fifteen centimes per kilogram, or a little less than three farthings per English pound, for the inland consumption ; but tho refrigerated stores, or chambers, are considered as bonds, consequently the meat stored in Belgium for the continental trade is free of Belgian duties. That inland duty is lower than in other European countries, some of them having town dues, which are abolished in Belgium—it will not affect the inland trade, because, as is generally the case, the direct result of the new taxation has been to increase the prices of the butcher’s meat. Until now the great drawback of the trade for long journeys or for butcher’s shop was the condensation of tho atmosphere’s moisture and dust upon the frozen meat, which has to bo taken from the freezing room some time before to become eatable. In many cases it becomes stale quicker than the fresh slaughtered meat. Fortunately tho new patented process of Professor Linde, applied to frozen meat, gives it not only a fresh-looking appearanco, but the meat can be kept eight days or more in a dry place. The new system is successfully used by tho Frigoriferes d’ Anvers, Autwerp. The operation is made free of charges ; the meat is not only properly thawed, but reasonably dried, so as to make it better than fresh slaughtered meat for Jong' railway travelling or to sfny ip the shops. Besides that, tho Belgian railways, the rofrigorating companies and ice works have built special cars for the inland and outlnnd direct traffic from Antwerp to every part of .Europe. The cars are kept dry and ut an even temperature by ice and some automatic valves. Largo agencies and retail shops are established in several countries and large cities by tho Frigoriferes d’ Anvers. The Cie. does not deal on its own account, except with tho War Office or public bodies buying in large quantities. It pikes only storage fees and a commission of two per cent to guarantee the payments. The aetpaj fees py charges in Belgium yipy with the rjuaqtity cntercel iq the yefrigerator prj cold rooms i for instance, forty tons of meat or more pays £1 12s per ton for tho fi,rst tivo weeks, and 4s for every week ovortliat time. This includes the reception on board, the cartage, the storage with light, and the delivery on, trucks ar cars in Antwerp. My great desire is to see the Now Zea- J lancf sheepow'ndrs and refrigerating companics deal dii'eot with Belgium, where largo consignments from North and spe- , cially South America are regularly made. An important 1 matter is that' the meat "LjC Stijtl' with theij: b.iaiicl or trade jijafk ii|oiitipjied with tho nipqe of (he pqqntiy it carries from, ns it is actually dono for the u msignments of the Argonh tine Republic and from London. Several consignments come from this last place, but the slreop are all sent and sold as English. It is impossible to know if there are some of them genuine New Zealand or nof. The 'pntotie'e of some London middlemeii" or agencies is to buy indirectly tho ibnsignmfcnts, to sell them again in the "maV.ket oy |oy\yiivd them after’(yards f° pie’ Coptuiehy ill the buyers’ liaise. The profits are divided between the supposed buyer and tho first consignee, whilst our runholders or sheepowners are complaining about tho absurd prices realised. I should bo glad to Jo my host to push the frozen meat trade. I would leave temporarily my family in Now Zealand - uikl"'dffef my own services aiid knowledge of foreign languages to jieeompany any direct invoice ’ worn. iiloj’G ur " . - * k nt ,' mi tno consignors, which soiuu make it at tho same time a splendid excursion after having established a good business with a reliable country. Ausxaxoek Bkc k, M.E. Consul for Belgium. ] Christc’mreb, Jan 10, 1888.