THE DEMAND FOR MEAT.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 996, 3 April 1891, Page 20

THE DEMAND FOR MEAT.

An idea has somehow crept into peoples’ heads in London that the quality of the frozen mutton exported from this Colony is deteriorating. One reason given is that the demand has increased at such a rate that all the finer bred sheep have been used up and now a draw has to be made upon * scrubbers.’ How the idea originated we know not; but to us out here who are acquainted with the facts, the idea is almost too absurd to discuss. Notwithstanding the heavy export of the past few years, there is as good mutton in New Zealand to-day as there ever was, and the quality taken in hand by the various freezing companies is equal to any produced in Great Britain. To the credit of our graziers it must be said that they spare neither pains nor expense to raise as fine a class of sheep as possible. Our grass and climate is unsurpassed for sheep-raising, and we have remarkably fine strains of the choicest breeds the world can produce. It has been proved time after time that, no matcer how fine the breed of imported sheep may be, they certainly improve—if that he possible—and do not deteriorate in this Colony. A Smithfield prize Leicester would in two generations in this Colony produce specimens superior to the original stock. This theory of deterioration most probably only exists in the minds of men who want to ‘ bear ’ the market for their own selfish ends. Our friends in the Old Country may rest assured that even if our export of frozen mutton doubles itself next year the quality of the meat will be as fine as ever. Notwithstanding the trad-ucers of our mutton the demand is steadily increasing. A new meat ship has lately been built on the Tyne by Messrs Doxfords for a London: company. She is said to he the largest vessel ever built for the mutton trade. Her name is the Hawkes Bay. She has just started on

her maiden voyage first to Antwerp, thence to London and thence to New Zealand.