THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 17, 3 May 1895, Page 2

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

. — + [('Tapanui Courier.') "We have had frequent occasion of late to refer to the state of the frozen meat trade, and to deplore the fact that the Government and the people of New Zealand will not take more efficient step 3to control the sale of meat in Great Britain. In the past the graziers have been practically relieved of all difficulty by merchants and speculators purchasing the lamb and mutton and consigning to London. Owing to the terrible fall in the market, however, the shippers of frozen meat have nearly all come to grief, and consequently in the future graziers will have either to accept Nelson Bros.' terms or consign on their own account ; and the firm mentioned, having no opposition, of course buy at their own prices. We pointed out years ago tho danger of Nelson Bros, getting a monopoly of the frozen meat trade in this colony, and this they have almost succeeded in doing. They now control the Ocean Beach works at Bluff, and will not buy any carcases frozen at Mataura or Wallacetown, while at Barnside they ! monopolise about half the space. One speculator loaded * vessel with lamb at Port Chalmers this year, but the bulk of the meat now baa to be frozen and shipped on owners' account, and graziers will have to depend principally on this style of business in future According to the latest cables, New Zealand lamb is quoted at 4d per lb ; best mutton 3£d ; second quality, 2§ d j and yet at the same time an ex- colonist (Mr Cameron, late of Balclutha) writes that New Zealand mutton and lamb is being retailed at from 6d to 9d per lb, There is actually no control over the distribution of frozen meat at Home, and until some competent roan is sent to protect shippers' interests no improvement can be looked for in prices. At present neither Government, the Chambers of Commerc9, or the producers themselves will take any steps to protect the frozen meat trade, and consequently low and falling priceß have to be contended with. At one period there waß no difficulty in selling New Zealand lamb and mutton at from 5d to 7d per lb in London, &nd the meat was highly appreciated. Now it has fallen to low values, although the quality is as good as e»er, and we are told that sellers and buyers find fault with both mutton and lambi To restore the froz?n meat trade to a payable business requires a special effort, and it is high time that exporters put their shoulders to the wheel and endeavored to extract the trade from the slough of despond into which it has fallen.