FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 7342, 5 December 1884, Page 5

FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Since the refrigerating apparatus in use on board both sailing and steam vessels was brought to a high state of perfection, we have never entertained a doubt with regard to the ultimata development of an enormous and profitable frozen meat trade between this colony and Great Britain. Losses, owing sometimes to the inferior or unsuitable quality of the sheep, sometimes to defective treatment of the carcases, and sometimes to unavoidable accident, were sure to arise, and sure also to bo reduced to a minimum when the trade became fully understood. Freight and charges of all kinds were also certain to go down considerably. These expectations have to some extent been already realised, and further modifications in the interests of producers and shippers may be looked for as time goes on. But notwithstanding all the care and trouble which have been taken, and the constantly increasing stock of information regarding the requirements of the market, the trade cannot yet be said to be on a thoroughly satisfactory footing, This is shown by the fact that there is always special anxiety as to the condition in which a cargo will reach London, and as to the price it will realise. We mean an anxiety beyond what is usually felt for other articles of export. There is a greater uncertainty of results than there ought to be, and whilst that continues it is evidence that the colony is not reaping the utmost legitimate benefit of the trade. There seems to be still a want of complete organization at the other end of the line, or at all events such organization as there is has failed, in face of what is frequently a most unscrupulous opposition, to secure the full advantages which should be within reach of those who have embarked in the business. We not unfrequently hear of the market for New Zealand meat being glutted, and we frankly, confess that we cannot understand how such a state of things can be brought about, unless by the entire inadequacy of the means of distribution. Colonists are told that the Home market for frozen meat is practically limitless, and we believe that it is so ; yet the very men who commit themselves to that statement will now rnd then give a note of warning as to the necessity for being cautious and avoiding a glut. Now although the New Zealand frozen meat trade is assuming much larger proportions than it possessed at the start it is still very small indeed when placed beside the Home trade. In 1882 the meat from New Zealand and Australia in Smithfleld market represented about the one hundred and twentysecond part of the total in the market; and in 1883 about the forty-seventh part. But the capabilities of the colonial trade are not exhausted by the Smithfield market; and beyond London there are numberless openings which have yet to be utilised. The more one considers the matter the firmer becomes the conviction that the export of frozen meat may be safely regarded as one of the most important staple industries of New Zealand. What is wanted now is better organization—perhaps we should say more energetic action—at Home for making most of the market. The following is a comparative return of all imports of meat into the Smithfield market for the years 1883 and 1883:

field Market daily during the year was. for 1882, 086 tons, and for 1883, .2o tons; the minimum delivery on any one day was, for 1882, 204 tons, and for 1883, 224 tons; the maximum delivery was, fur 1882, 1417 tons ; and fur 1883, 1429 tons.

Tons p % 3.? ?■? 1 o j-* L_* M M J C»C CO O 00 O © Country killed. w Sf 55 w w h* o to m *-* m o w 09 M SB ° Tons. 6,018 5,215 6,260 6,018 6,893 7,596 7,586 8,023 7,773 8,018 7,180 4,940 Town, killed. General Foreign 9,936 'ons, 1,069 928 979 606 339 280 222 295 596 1,145 1,668 1,759 Meat and •Poultry. s American-killed o ss CfcSoO^MOMSMCJtO! Fresh Meat. J_4 T’ns 196 125 118 70 155 158 133 198 191 230 75 78 I Australian and New is | Zealand Meat,

Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. T’ns 10,892 5,711 1,314 2,370 39 Feb. 9,683 4,986 955 2,087 319 11331 4,850 1,106 2,922 201 9,389 5,210 838 3,000 295 8,916 6,436 474 2,263 229 June 7,687 7,121 381 1,961 378 6,056 7.579 444 1,581 488 6,548 6,751 384 1,954 301 6,934 6,930 636 1,889 541 Oct. 8,917 7,374 1,206 2,032 510 9,656 6,555 1,583 2,499 728 Dec. 10,350 5,109 2,093 2,233 635 Tons 186,391 74,635' 11,414 26,791 4671 Australian Imports of American Meat, and New Zealand. 1876 ... ... 6,513 tons 1877 ... ... 14.641 „ — 1878 ... ... 19,370 „ —• 1879 ... ... 20,751 „ — 1880 ... ... 25,836 „ — 1881 ... ... 27,439 „ 565 tons 1882 ... ... 16.635 ,« 1727 ., 1883 ... ... 26,; 99 „ 4671 , The average quantity of meat In the Smith-