The Marlborough Express. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. FRIDAY MARCH 10. 1911. THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 59, 10 March 1911, Page 4

The Marlborough Express. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. FRIDAY MARCH 10. 1911. THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

In common with practically every other branch- of industry the frozen meat trade in the United Kingdom experienced an exceptionally good year in 1910, which ranked as one or the best all-round years m the, history of this trade. Ample confirmation or this statement is afforded by Messrs Weddel and. Go's review, a copy ot which is now to hand. In the first place, it is pointed out, importations of frozen and chilled meats into the United Kingdom attained an unprecedented total, the aggregate deliveries weighing no less than o.LU,y/u teas, an increase of 78,714 tons, or 15 p r cent"/ over the total for 1909, \ .iich in its turn had exceeded, its p.adecessor by 46,280 tons, or 10 per c.nt. In the second place, despite the enormous growth in supphes^the prices realised averaged all round very much more than in 1909, which was a year of moderate values, and almost as much as in 1908, which was a year of reduced supplies and high prices. , ,Jn- the third place, while shippers (aided by the good prices secured for tallow, wool, and skins) must have secured satisfactory results on the year's operations*, importers and retailers also enjoyed a good spell of profit-earning. The strength of the position had its orfgiri in the period of low prices which, prevailed in the summer of 1909, when retail consumption underwent very considerable expansion in all parts of the country. The favorable conditions thus created in respect of the demands 'were supplemented by the pronounced shortage in supplies coming from North America. The general trade of the United Kingdom being unusually healthy at the commencement of 1910, the consuming power, df^the masses was soon found to be much greater than in previous years; and so it came about that the markets, were able to absorb with unexpected facility the vast additional quantities of meat pouring into the country from Australia, New Zealand, an<l South America. As the year progressed the retail demand, with only occasional interruptions through strikes, steadily grew, and at the close it was stronger than ever before. Home supplies were again moderate, while Continental receipts showed a further decrease. One most noteworthy feature of the past year was the rapid ripening of public opinion in some of the mos"t important countries on the Continent of Europe in favor of the freer admission of frozen meat, in order to relieve the growing, scarcity and dearness of their domestic supplies. Austria and Italy have already progressed. some considerable way in this direction. Switzerland is preparing to follow in their steps. Portugal has just removed its import duty on meat. Germany has nq£ yet decided to make any definite move in the same direction, but the trend of events there also points to removing or mitigating the existing restrictions upon importations. , The total supply of beef available from all sources of consumption m the United Kingdom during 1910 was ,1,209,208 tons, and otmnU ton and lamb 504,212 tons representing 59.71D8 of the former, and of the latter per head of the population. These quantities were composed of home-grown meat to the extent. <>f 61.8 per cent., frozen meats /4.9 pe r cent., chilled beef 8.8 per cent., with 4.7 per cent, of foreign live cattle and sheep and fresh killed meat. The quantities of home and imported beef, mutton, and lamo available for consumption in the U nrfced Kingdom during 1910 aeeregated.l,Bl3,42o tons, as against 1,----777,253 tons in 1909. Of that weight, i i OI T 6 suPPly was estimated as 1,121, r6O tons in 1910, as compared with. 1,128,600 tons in 1909; the beef, mutton, and lamb imported, either i alive, frozen, or chilled, weighing ap■lffi£ ately 691 >660 -tons, as against 640 653 tons in 1909. The most striking increase in arrivals was from Australia, viz., 52,539 tons'beyond the 1909 total; while New Zealand1 contributed 10,231 tons more than in 1909. There was a decrease of 9061 tons m- frozen meats, but an increase of 44,206 tons in chilled beef from South America. The only new source of supply was Venezuela, which forwarded several shipments of frozen beef, and one parcel of chilled beef, *he aggregate weight of which was f ®°J lOns: There was a revival in the trade in pork from Australia and New Zealand, the import amounting to 547 tons. Frozen rabbits bulkea on the markets to the extent of 30,----188 tons. Importations of frozen mutton from New Zealand amounted to 1,991,115 carcases, an increase of only 6.5 per cent. During the grea+9r part of _ the year the supply was less than in the corresponding months of 1909, and. with an improved demand, full prices were secured without causing any check to sales. Canterbury sheep were frequently scarce, and almost always relatively dear. Good Southland sheep were available during: the greater part of the year, and these, together with North Island sheep, received a large share of buyers' attention.^ - *s

Opening at 4£d per lb prices of prime j Canterbury sheep steadily rose to 4^d in March, falling rapidly from that level to the extent, of nearly Id per lb during the following five weeks; The recovery to 4£d in June could not be maintained, and July witnessed market values at 3|d, from which j level they steadily recovered to 4fa ' during the last three months of the ; year. The quality of Canterbury i sheep was usually well up to the aver- i age; and the favorite brands of j North Island mutton gained in popularity with buyers. New Zealand importations of lamb aggregated 3,416,----359 carcases, as against 3,165,504 in j 1909. Old stocks were all cleared, I and the bulk of Australian receipts; had gone into consumption before the ' new season's shipments came to hand. Just at that stage, (in March) an opportune shortage of home-grown mutton and tegs left an almost clear market for freshly imported New # Zealand lambs. The season thus enjoyed an j excellent opening, and for some time supplies went into consumption as rapidly as they were available from the steamers. Even the heavy arrivals at the height of the season caused only a comparatively small ■drop in prices; and the end of the year saw stocks practically exhausted, after what must have been one of the ■most satisfactory seasons shippers have ever experienced. The quality generally was well maintained, and, aided by a good market, buyers' complaints were very occasional and not of a serious nature. New Zealand beef arrivals were 344,048 quarters, as against 297,328 quarters in 1909. Prime beef, when available, commanded full prices, but the tendency shown in recent years to include a large proportion of the lower qualities among the. quantity exported was , again very noticeable. Complaints of bone-taint were more frequent than , usual, that particular kind of damage being now brought into promiI nence, as losses resulting from it are , not recoverable under insurance ' policies. The" rapidly changing statistical positiori in the Old Country resulted in unusually violent fluctuations in prices. Fores rose to 4fd per lb in June, but a month later had dropped no less than 2d per lb, moving thereafter between 2fd and 2|d per lb. Hinds in June similarly touched the record" price of the year, viz.j s£d per lb, followed by a sharp fall to 3|d in July, which in its turn was succeeded by a moderate range if fluctuations between 3|d and 3fd per lb. Although regrettable labor troubles in the shipbuilding, cotton, and coal trades curtailed the spending powers of the masses in the districts affected, nevertheless, taken as a whole, the volume of business done throughout the- provinces _ last year underwent further expansion. The number of direct shipments of Australian and New Zealand meat to Liverpool, Avonnlouth, Cardiff, and Glasgow increased materially,' and satisfactorily filled" up the deficiency in South American mutton and lamb. As a rule, the country markers were good, although, Liverpool prices were more than once weakened as compared with London, by temporary over-supply. There are now 214 steamers fitted with refrigerated machinery and having an. estimated! carrying capacity of 14,225,500 x 561b" carcases actually trading between Australasia, South America, and the United Kingdom,' while twenty-five additional steamers (including seven large vessels now in the course of being built) will be available to meet further developments in 1910. Large as are these figures, there was frequently a scarcity of refrigerated tonnage during 1910 both in Australia and South America, and some extreme rates were paid times for prompt loading. The world's supply of. new refrigerated tonnage does not appear to be commensurate with the developments of the export trades in refrigerated produce, and should the Continental markets call for any large deliveries in the near future it would appear as if the scarcity of tonnage might continue until the steamers now building are available. The Mediterranean and West Coast (of England) trades require more extended shipping facilities than' are now provided. The general trade conditions, concludes the report, are so excellent that an improved sumptive demand for all kinds of I foocF-stuffs seems to be assured—at ! least for some months ahead. Frozen moat- of all kinds may be expected toi participate to the full in any such improvement, amd as stocks in store are moderate, even the heavier shipI ments in sia;ht should not offer any serious barrier to the maintenance of prices a* a level as satisfactory as that of IP-10. Any .material development in +be Continental demand must have » further. hardening * influence noon flip value of h^of in the markets of the United Kingdom.