AUSTRALIA’S EXPORT MEAT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, 31 October 1921, Page 2

AUSTRALIA’S EXPORT MEAT

DARWIN WORKS CLOSED INDEFINITELY SYDNEY. Oct. 19.

Tim announcement by tho British him of Vesteys, Ltd., that (hey have finally decide, d to close- their meat i-ig, ,a( Darwin indefinitely, and lliai all bands except (lie caretaker had been discharged, is a biller disappointment la )Imse who had built great hopes for the dovefiipni eii), of the- Northern Territory upon llie activities of the firm, and lias an important bearing upon the meat er-porl. trade. The works have now been closed for a, considerable period, mainly owing to crippling in ■ in-! rial I iambics and the unsuitability of the wharfage facilities. When the Federal Rubik Works Clummiftee which is hr-c.s(igating the North-South railway p- 1 r ■((■(.;, was in Darwin recently, tim managing director of the meatworks. Mr Gcnaeher, explained Unit the, iib.sofai c appliances at- tlm wharf vender.’■! (lie handiifng of goods (import ami export) extremely expensive. Tim pastoral leases operated by Vesteys inf a I led 50.000 square miles. The stock included 150.000 cattle in tho Territory and 80,000 in Western Australia. The majority of (ho stock went to the meat works at- Darwin and Wyndham. L would take nearly six months, Mr Cnmiclie 1- said, to drove them to Adelaide. Tu wells and hones £75,000 had l>o.-n simnl. A railway would enable the company to offer a. price for fat slock, which would bring tho cattle from further smith to Darwin. The line would develop trade with the East. There was a big demand in Java, for live stork, which was chiefly supplied from Western Australia. It was all a matter of freight. Landing charges at dm. wharf were now 17s against 4s a few rears ago. Reasonable wharf facilities’ would reduce the latter sum and render pillage difficult. His was British firm" up against the American Trust. A good wharf was vital to reopening the meatworks. TTo had paid £5 a head for cattle, and lost on jbein : Iml with tlm economics indicated. he could pay £B. The annual freight was about 50,000 tons. The Wyndham State meatworks in North-West Australia are nnt_ in operation in consequence of extortionate demands made by the employees.—-Press lorrospOTident.