FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 269, 15 November 1909, Page 3

FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

■ WHAT NEW ZEALAND CAN DO. SOME ENGLISH OPTIONS. i Press Correspondent.) (O"^ 1111101' 1 LONDON, Oct. 1. tive intern"™* e a 'g e a in the NOT StSSSjflSEfi prove tl.e.prosp"*' £ t. ge penenced this > ear. tako lt *lse values weFe going to ' for. granted that vail not be lower m *l*".}, ■ The fact was .exactly vj"^" eXC eedWy g?°d that there beg f n the Dominion times. ■, The ™*ac i essential for had to r^ll? 6*l^ in order to.com- *£ $SZ$$F%& A-tralia alld months- Ihu'*.*{_* *\* i he shipments Zealand to dTO*de" " longer period not be so nea> i y a-~ „ re cogmsed •cSv^rSb^ATUEAL LAW Another important firm expressed the oSSn that although it was .easy |lS^m«lefl there were insuperable difficulties in the way of carrying them out. When ;Sr Joseph Ward was m London. he attended a meeting on the .subejet, and displayed a remarkable graspjot the requirements ot. tue trade, btUi, one did not like to say that it was beyond the power of man to effect an improvement in the condition, lne main point to be remembered was that the lamb trade was governed -by natural law, and no. scheme outlined on paper could possibly meet ail tlie contingencies that' must "arise under such circumstances. In its primary stage it was a natural production, which could not be controlled by man. New Zealand might bring its trade up to the highest pitch of perfection., and then all efforts be wasted, in view ■of the competition from Australia and the Argentine. The serious factor in the market was that it was: no good regulating one section.if one could not : regulate one's competition. EQUALISE THE SHIPMENTS. More than one firm has something •■to say about the distribution of shipments, and it, was felt that it, ought not to be difficult to effect- some equalisation. For instance, during May of this year 937,000 carcases were shipped. In June the number ■fell to 410.*000, in July 390,000, and in August 186,00. Th-ere might be diffi•culties in the way that were not sufficiently obvious on this side, but this was a matter which should engage the attention of the Dominion. The number oi" arrivals also conveyed its lesson. In June these totalled 998,000, and fell in July to 760.000. in August to 301.000, and in .■September to about, 200,000. The .equalisation of shipments was really vitally important, and if only the arrivals were- regulated, then the Home market might be better controlled. ■.-. ■ One gentleman thought .that this could be .accomplished- by having "larger storage accommodation on the other side. This would, not necessarily nittail' more expanse, as' the cost (of storage was small when contrasted '''"■'with tfi,4 loss on the market here. Us felt tHWt if. the River Plate could send equal shipments month by_ month, there was no reason why New Zealand could not do the same. ->Tlj*» statisics for the River Plate trade did not show the irregularity of New Zealand. He was under- the impression that there were'local jealousies in t!ie Dominion, which jiotonly prevented those engaged in the trado working together, but even prevented their meeting to talk,the matter.'-over; The 'first essential for New Zealand was to •organise the trade on modern "business

lines —on Yankee business lines, '..me freezing companies must control the whole ,-thing and make all the purchases for the Home market. At present there were so many individual farmers, co-operative companies, and different firms at work that they competed against on© another. JMVAL COMPETITORS AND INCREASED FLOCKS. The desirability of restricting the "New Zealand supply in/ view of the heavy supplies coming from Australia and the Argentine in order to effect an improvement on the Home market was discussed. Practically every answer to this was in the negative. It ' was pointed out that such a proceeding would only make an opening tor .rival competitors, and Australia and the Argentine would reap the benefit. The Dominion was not in a position to do what she liked. Her action must inevitably be affected by what the other Countries did; but if only her .supplies were controlled sensibly, then her position to meet the competition would be vastly improved. In reply to the question whether the prospects of the English markets justified the increase of flocks in New Zealand, there was a difference of opinion. One geiitleman thought that the prospects m England did not justify New Zealand in expecting anything like the prices which had hitherto held good, while another argument put forward was that until Australia had another drought New Zealand prices would have to go down, though not below the level of this year's. While the prospects were not encouraging, it was a question of quality, and there was always room at the top. If New Zealand improved her quality by careful grading and stringent selection, then it would tell in her favor, for even in the present season there had not been more of the ■first quality meat than was wanted. ARE CAPITALISTS WISE? Generally speaking the formation of new companies in New Zealand is not held to improve the outlook. It is felt that there are already too many companies in the Dominion,,who, working on different principles, prevent the control and regulation of shipments. The .addition of new freezing companies consequently makes the situation worse., One contrary view.: was/ that it did not make much difference either way. Only a certain percentage of the flocks could be* exported, and it was a matter of' indifference as to how many works had to share the export between them. There was no reason to be pessimistic, for precedent did not count a cent. There had been a glut tliis year, and two years hence there might be a scarcity. One gentleman volunteered the statement that there Was no fault to be found with the dressing of the carcases from New Zealand. MR CAMERON'S OPINION. When asked for his opinion on the position, Mr H. C. Cameron, the Produce Commissioner, remarked that it was pretty well summed up in the lecture which he delivered at "Woodville, jn New Zealand, six years ago. He had then warned the farmers of New Zealand against the danger of competition, and spoke of halF. a dozen of the chief faults which were militating against the welfare of the trade. A perusal of this- speech showed that Mi1 Cameron had indeed, at that time, foreshadowed most of the difficulties that have since arrived, difficulties ivhich, in most cases, nothing whatever has been done to prevent. The irregularity *of shipments was then especially emphasised, but, as we know, the-warning was spoken to deaf ears. ' „ Asked whether New Zealand should cry :i halt in the expansion of her flocks, Mr Cameron said he did not think so. Why should she? There 1 were other things but meat to grow ' sheep for, and, after all, wool was a very important produce of the New

Zealand flocks. Certainly they should not be restricted.