FROZEN MEAT.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 268, 13 November 1909, Page 6

FROZEN MEAT.

PRICES AND PROSPECT,

LITTLE HOPE OF PERMANENT

IMPROVEMENT.

While in quantity, quality, and price most of our staple products have maintained their position fairly well in the Home market during: the past year, there are one or two unfortunate exceptions. The most serious is the case of frozen meat. What- | ever may have been the reason", the j prices or frozen lamb, mutton, and beef, during the last twelve months at least, have . been unsatisfactory i both to the producer and to the | freezing, companies. A sudtien up- ! ward tendency was recorded recently, but the improvement, according, to Mr W. G.Foster, managing, director of the Wellington Meat Export Company, is not. likely, toj be permanent. In an interview: with a Post representative the; other day, Mr Foster, who returned from the Old Country by the lonie only last week, pointed out that 3b,is was the off-sea-son for frozen mutton, of which there was only a very short supply on* the market. Lamb had not participated to anything like the same extent in the rise in prices, and when Mr Fos-, ter left London the cool stores were full of lamb, which, of course, is New Zealand's speciality. "Now," said Mr Foster, "I understand that last winter here was very open and the spring early, and that the lambing everywhere has been exceptionally good. I take it, therefore, that our export of lamb during the coming season will largely exceed that of last year. Australian advices point in the same direction, and there is no reason to suppose that the output of the Argentine will decline. Thus, we ( shall have another increase in the supply. NoWj will the demand be sufficient to meet this increase? The trouble of low prices is undoubtedly caused by the excess of supply over demand."

IF TRADE REVIVES?

"But what i£ the condition of trad© improves in the Old Country, and the working classes eat more meat?" "Well, you. must remember that with the low prices ruling until recently, there was an, enormous increase irt the consumption of frozen meat! A man was able to buy practically two pounds of meat for the>same' money that purchased, one previously. When the prices- went up, the con- : sumption went down. And, though I did not make any special investigation of the condition of trade, I heard a great deal of complaint in Londont about depression, and noticed a general despondency. White trade may show some slight revival, it is not sufficient to justify great expectations. I may add that the recent high prices- quoted from London for mutton were only obtainable onthe spot."

ARGENTINE COMPETITION

"Did you notice any increasein theseverity of Argentine competition?" "There is certainly an improvement in the quality, as w©H as an increase in the quantity/of River Plate mutton and lamb. I think we must reckon we have a very powerful competitor indeed in the - Argentine. Flocks there are heing improved rapidly, and their facilities for shipment are much better than ours. Their produce is marketed in the very best possible way, and in one point —that of butchering and dressing—it shows up bettor than a considerable portion of New Zealand meat. This is specially noticeable with regard to the shipments from the Cnicago firms who have recently entered the business on the River Plate. rr

CHICAGO IN THE FIELD

"And what do you think is the main object of th© Swifts and Armours and other people in entering that branch of the.trade? Is it to capture the English market? I do1 not think so. I think the American packing firms are looking further ahead to the needs of their own country. They have purchased interests in South' America to meet the demand which is likely to come in a, very few years from North America, which will soon havo to look outside for her supply of meat. The Americans are very far-sighted^" ' As an effective weapon of competition in the1 hands ot.the Argentine firms, Mr Foster remarked that they were so powerful that they could afford to insist on the best treatment iv the London market. The number of the firms freezing on the Plate was few, but their output was enormous individually, and enabled them to meet the retailer on better terms than the smaller colonial oonoerns could secure. The Argentine meat was practically, in one nandi so to speak, and the sellers could combine if necessary te! maintain, prioets. ■ ;'

DISCHARGING AT LIVERPOOL

In answer; to a Question as, to, methods of•"' .discharging at Home I ports, Mr Foster said they were- satis- ! factory at London, but excieedingly unsatisfactory. at Liverpool, fHe had noticed. there, during the process of j unloading lamb, a full hour talsen to I fill a lorry. In the meantime; with a i warm breeze blowing over it, the pshoulders had begun, to thaw, and' j were actually movable. This was fatal ito the quality of the meat, and, peri fionally, he had protested strongly, • and obtained a promise of imprbvement. •

PRACTICE AND PREFERENCE

As regarded, the sale of New Zealand lamb as English, Mr Foster said he had' heard of instances. He did Mot object,; as he considered it a comr plimettt t-p New Zealand on the quality of h©r produce. If a retailer were able to sell New Zealand lamb as Home-grown . and get corresponding prices/ he would naturally be inclined to pay a higher price for it. '...,* 'What about preference?. Did you find public opinion in favour of it?" ■ ."I did hear opinions in favour of it,' but the great bulk of the people seem to bo against anything tuat would raise the price of their food. And the people, you know, are becoming more and more powerful in deciding such matters. Preference would benefit us, but-I am- doubtful as. to its being adopted ai Home/

REGULAR SHIPMENTS A REMEDY.

YWhat 'practical • measure, theii, can you suggest for the improvement of prices?" "We ought to have more regular shipments instead of pouring our frozen meat on the London market all at once and causing a glut. I have advocated for some years an investigation into this important question of shipping. I think the freezing com- : parties should combine to secure, something like regularity of supplies; Last season there was such a glut that the cool stores were absolutely full, and there was some talk about procuring cool store bulks. If we eaum gotj

i some arrangement to keep the suppl^ i regular, it would be better for everj- ! body. When the retailer is approach* jed to buy meat, the first tiling he I asks is, 'What ship?' and, if ycu rixenI tion an early boat, he will say, 'Oh, that's been <too long in storage, ana will be stale.' He takes something ,by a later boat. The companies should confer with the shipping «ompanies, and draw up a programme of : shipments. It would undoubtedly be :, extremely beneficial to the producer ';; and operator at fhis end. That is my i main suggestion. I cannot offer much \ hope of an improvement in prices for Lj the coming season, but that would do something to mitigate a glut."