THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8424, 27 November 1890, Page 3

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

[by telegraph. OWN correspondent.] Cambridge, Wednesday. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Farmers' Club was held last night, Mr. G. E. Clarke in tho chair. There was a moderate attendance of members. Ib was resolved that in order to hear Mr. Caverhill, of the Frozen Meat Company, the ordinary business stand adjourned till next meeting. Mr. Caveriiill, in a few prefatory remarks, introduced the business which occasioned his presence amongst them, viz., that of meat freezing, with especial reference to the despatch of a cargo on the 15th January. . Some members thought that now the Waitara works were opened there would not bo any occasion to freeze, but it was pointed out that there was a large increase of sheep in the district, and more than the local market would absorb. In reply to questions Mr. Caverhill stated that the present London price of mutton was 4d, netting 2d, and that the best months for frozen mutton to reach the London market were May to September. Lambs should reach London in April. The best weight for lambs was about 351b, and should not exceed 401b. Some lambs that Mr. Rich had sent home were 431b, and realised top price in the market. The space available for January was for 600 lambs, but if more than that number of lambs were offered some of the sheep would be pub back till February. The Company would take small lots, say, a truck of seventy to eighty lambs. They were wanted about Christmas, and lie would like to know as soon as possible who were going to ship, so that notices could bo sent out to get the lambs down, in order to be able to kill the same next day. They would start to kill on sth December. The way people did down South was to club together and get a proportion frozen, and thus keep the local market open. Lambs averaged 10s net in the London market. There had been some complaint in the past re the company's charges, but if the machinery was kept going a considerable reduction could be made. New machinery was shortly expected, which would enable the company to complete a cargo in a much shorter space of time than at present. Mr. Fisher proposed that a registry be opened by the club, for the purpose of giving sheep-breeders an opportunity _of registering what quantity they might wish to forward for shipment in January, so as to arrange by st'i December for 1000 sheep from Wttikato. This was seconded by Mr. Allen and carried. The Secretary suggested that the fact of it registry being opened might be advertised in conjunction with the Hamilton branch, at whose office tho registry could also be opened. The suggestion was adopted. In reply to Mr. James Taylor, Mr. Caverhill said that merinos did not take well in the London market- The very best class of mutton to send was the first cross between a merino ewe and Leicester ram. This was the Southern practice, and the Southern mutton always headed tho list. The Vice-chairman (Mr. Fisher) proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Caverhill for his attendance and the valuable information given to the club, which was carried unanimously.