CHINESE AND BRITISH MARKETS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6964, 2 November 1909, Page 3

CHINESE AND BRITISH MARKETS

SOME PARTICULARS OP A KG SCHEME. I wrote a note in my last letter (says the Smithfiold correspondent of the "Pastoral iats’ Review") concerning the largo parcel of refrigerated produce imported into this country lately from Hankow, where the Union Cold Storage Company have a cold store. The goods exported were of a varied nature, ranging from pork to poultry, and the general arrangements and Complete organisation which marked the shipment, as well as the large sum of money represented by the goods, indicate that the business has been carefully thought out by the Bnglish.eyndicate which has'taken, up the venture. At one of the ■ world’s developments in the region of (refrigeration, this experiment is worth watching, for it is evident that, the syndicate have had local and shipping arrangements for a on a big scale of these shipments. Such a continuance will of course depend upon a successful market return from the first lot of frozen. produce. The main feature of the a.s. Palermo shipment was 5000 frozen pligs, which are in the hands of Messrs Pitteir for sale. The publip have lashed themselves into a state of great excitement over this Chinese pork. Scores of questions have been put to the Minister in Parliament, and Mr John Burns, the chdef of the department, has twice visited Smithfield to inspect the carcases. The papers have been full of horrified protests from people to whom the habits of the Chinese scavenger pig are familiar. But the importers point out that this shipment represents pigs specially fed on, proper food, and I understand that a good many of the carcases have been bought by London pork butchers at about fid per lb, who have reported favourably. The public, of course, have no moans of knowing whether the pork they buy and eat comes from China or is home-grown. Tho pork passed all inspection tests well, and from all points of view there can bo no doubt that the meat is of excellent quality. But in face of tho now regulations put into force, and allowing for the force of sentimental opinion regarding port from China, it seems to me somewhat doubtful if success will result financially. Besides the-pork there were 1200 Lake deer, 20 to 25 lbs, some of which have bean sold to restaurants ait 5d per lb maximum. There were 18,000 cases of chickens, ducks, and geese, which goods ore in the hands of Messrs Kerry. Hull and Juniper to sell. The poultry were well graded,- but were rather poor. The consignment included wild fowl of many

sorts. I sampled a canvas-back duck, and found it excellent.. By the way, our people call this bird the "ruddy sheldrake." Speaking full and by, although the wild fowl and poultry are fairly meritorious, they are not able in quality to compete with the goods of the same land already handled on our markets. Some bustards shipped were liked here. These new ventures to a market like ours, already crowded with provisions from all parts of the world, are attended with considerable financial nisks to tho adventurers.