FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1032, 11 December 1891, Page 25

FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

More light is thrown on the frozen meat trade every day. The other day we noted a very shrewd series of observa tions made by a Canterbury man iu London, the manager of one of the South Canterbury co-operative businesses. Since then we have seen the results of the experience of a Mr Rowe set forth in the columns of a Christchurch contemporary. This gentlemanappears to have enjoyed special advantages, and to have made good use of them. His report, if we may style the results of an “interview” iu that way, which appears in the Lyttelton r l'ivics, is very interesting reading. At the outset he confirms what was said before him about the damage in transit to the mutton. A great proportion of the meat, he avers, is damaged on the voyage, and sold at cheap rates on arrival. One reason is, Mr Ro we says, speaking after extensive observation, the bad loading at this end ; the carcases 'being stacked too heavy without anything to break the pressure. Another reason, he assigns, i 3 that everything has to give way on board the passenger ship to the exigencies of speed. Then on arrival the meat is very badly treated. He saw much of it damaged in various ways—careless handling, improper breaking out of the cargo, thawing during dinner hours being the principal causes. It is no wonder, for there is no one to supervise the work in the interests of the consignors. The complaint is not by any means new, but no one seems to mind in the least. Mr Rowe’s suggestion is that an official should be appointed to supervise, and he supports his advice by citing the practice of the American consignors of beef, who have a representative always present, with the result that the beef is landed in perfect condition. And there are other advantages, for this official is a despot (a “Czar,” Mr Rowe calls him) whom the salesmen are obliged to consult before allowing any fluctuations in the selling price. Regarding the disposal of the meat by the retailers, Mr Rowe reports satisfactorily. A large proportion goes into consumption as English mutton, as he saw for himself in the shops, and in this connection he details some rather amusing experiences. But he saw at the same time that a very lt rge demand exists for frozen mutton from New Zealand, which demand is supplied in a manuer very fair and square and above board. The prejudice, these retailers told him, against the imported article is dying away fast. Obviously, there are four things for those interested in the trade to attend to. They must insist on better treatment in transit; and Heaven knows the rate of freight is high enough

to secure the best. They must provide against the shocking loss from caro'ess handling aud want of supervision generally in landing. They must devise means to checkmate the unscrupulous butchers who live by making handsome profits out of the vicious practice of selling New Zealand meat as English. And, lastly, they must see that the very best quality is supplied to those honest traders who are pushing the trade in frozen mutton on its own merits. The fourth is largely a matter of breeding, which has had much attention in the c uutry. The third is a service which ought to be relegated to the consignees. The others go towards sustaining tlio indictment against the shipping and selling interests, which has now got so heavy as to imperatively require, not answer alone, but radical reform.