Frozen Meat.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7792, 17 March 1904, Page 7

Frozen Meat.

The values of all grades of frozen meat continue drpressed. do-withstand-ing the fact that shipments are light, and there is >dso the dr-inclinatiorT of buyers to make forw-ud purchases to indicate shut a further decliae is to be expected. The weakness of the market is due to the slackness in the industrial situation. The Board of Trad 9 returns for the last year snow that at tha end of December there was an accession of depression, the parcentage of unemployed at the end of the year was 67 per cen^, as compared with 5*5 per cent, at the close of 1902. The mean percentage of unemployed returned at the end of December during the ten years 1893-1903 was 4*B, so that the unemployed at the end of 1903 numbered nearly 2 per cent*, above the average. The statistical position is satisfactory*^ the-moment, supplies from IfewZealand and the Argentine being short, while from Australia there is an improvement as compared with the drought 'period. »At various times efforts have been made to introduce frozen meia't into the 1 «ge Continental cities, and, although these attempts have so far proved abortive, there is reason io hope that the restrictions againat frozen meat will be removed in a little while. The increasing cost of home grown meat is causing those interested to agitate in the matter. News comes from Vienna that owing to the increasing complaints of the public with regard tc tbe exorbitant; price of meat the Vienna City Council asked the Government upon what conditions the importation of meat from the United States, Argentine and Australia would be permitted. Simultaneously with the City Council's action the Ministry of the Interior issued an order prohibiting the importation cf frozen beef from the Argentine or Australia coming through the London market when accompanied only by a certificate of an English Veterinary Surgeon. The importation of frozen beef and pork direct from Australia is also prohibited but with respect to beef coming direct from Argentine and por: from Canadcl decision vsas withheld pending further enquires. It is considered likely that the Government will relax tbe strinEoney in order.to aid the efforts of the Cisy Council tc procure cheaper meat for Vienna.

In the annual report of the Bremen Chamber cf Commerce the following reference is made to frozen meat: " Although the importation of frozen * mea*i into Germany is not prohibited, still it is made both difficult and expend sivebythe wording oE the'Aci, which only permits meat to ba imported in whole carcases, to which must be attached the principal inner organs in their natural order for the purpose of sanitary examination. The experience gained by Great Britain has taught us that the precautionary measures contained in this new ordinance are entirely unnecessary as far as the public health is concerned, while the working men o£ our -industrial centres, who at present have to do without meat as being too expensive. eouid otherwise be supplied with a cheap and wholesome article of food. The Meat Inspection Act, as it now stands, mustbs called a sarcasm on our economical policy, and stands in direct opposition to the just demands of the German people, who, being largely dependent upon the export trade for their existence have to rely upon cheap meat iv order to strengthen their constitutions for rhe severe competitions in the make's of the world." "Wbea .1* .porssnV loc.l bodies are ngiiaiiog ior tbeiroo ndmis-ior, of frozen meat, tbora 13 hope th-.t" \hs rawic.icna now imposed will-he. ia ••■ measure, relaxed. If only a few shipments of meat could be got into Vienu's. Berlin, and Paris, the d<-morisrration cf cheap meat would soon break down ail barriers.—Evenirg Post.