THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9323, 28 March 1889, Page 5

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

[from OUR own CORRESPONDENT.] . London, February 8. To all those who realise the extreme importance to New Zealand of the frozen meat trade, it will bo welcome news that a vigorous attempt is now being made in this country to establish and develope more completely than has hitherto been done this great industry. The importation of frozen mutton from New Zealand reached last year to nearly a million carcases, although the supply hardly extended beyond the metropolis. The prejudice which existed a few years ago, fostered and pandered to, no doubt, by the " trade," whose profits were being interfered with or threatened, has no 1 well nigh disappeared. The frozen mutton is taken and appreciated more and more every day by all classes of the community. Tlve difficulty, indeed, is to keep pace with the increasing demand for it. The only complaint now comes from the colonial sheep farmer, who, owing to the systematic plunder which goes to the middle man, gets only about a penny a pound net for his choicest mutton. It seems indeed a cruel thing that whilst the product fetches a high price in this country, the producer in New Zealand gets barely sufficient to pay wages. _ But all this is likely soon to be changed in favour of a system which will secure to grower and consumer a fair division of profits. Hitherto the high cost of freight by the specially-constructed mail steamers has militated against the exporter, and the existence of what is really a monopoly has left the New Zealand farmer practically powerless in the matter. Nominally three competing lines divide the carrying trade at present; but, as a matter of fact, there is an amalgamation for freight purposes, the New Zealand Shipping Company, the Shaw, Savill and Albion, and Messrs. Tyser and Co. having come to a friendly arrangement. It is, therefore, all the more gratifying to bo able to announce that a movement is on foot for the establishment in Liverpool of a company to be called the Imperial and Colonial Trading Company (Limited), with a capital of a million, onehalf of which will be issued immediately, for the express purpose inter alia of establishing and developing the frozen meat trade between England and New Zealand. The whole scheme is based on the strictest business principles, and has been considered and approved by men of foremost position in financial circles. The promoters appear to be certain of great success, and, for the sake of New Zealand, it is earnestly to be hoped that nothing will happen to prevent its complete fruition. Before the next mail leaves I hope to be in a position to give full particulars. In the meantime, I may state that the scheme has the full sympathy and approval of the Agont-General for New Zealand, of Sir John Hall, and of several prominent colonists who happen to be in London.