THE MEAT TRADE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7021, 8 January 1910, Page 3

THE MEAT TRADE

VIEWS OP MR M. C. ORBELL. A SUGGESTIVE ADDRESS. ' Of the several views expressed of late in regard to the unsatisfactory position of the New Zealand meat trade, none have been so informative and suggestive as that of Mr M. C. Orbell, chairman of directors of the British-New Zealand, .Meat and Produce Company, at the an-, juual meeting of that body in Christo ,ohuroh on Wednesday. REPEATING LAST YEAR'S FOLLY. After explaining that the cause of thei big slump .this year was the dumping l |down in London in six weeks as many 'carcases of -lamb and mutton as should) have been spread over twelve weeks, Mr' 'Orbell asked—can you imagine anything 1 .more suicidal ? . Under present conditions there was nothing, he declared, to prevent a recurrence of these lamentable conditions. The necessary regulation, could only. be governed by the freezing, ’companies, assisted by owners. The 'latter should not hold back their stock, 'as ho was afraid they were doing, and .repeat last year's folly. If growers would isand their lambs forward as soon as matured and ship them as early as possible ’ they would not again witness the spec-, tacle of five large steamers leaving thei ■Dominion in one week laden with cargoes {overflowing with carcases of mutton and 1 lamb. THE C.I.F. BUYER A DRAWBACK. The great weakness of having our meat ikeld in too many hands is emphasised, by Mr Orbell, who declares that conceal- 1 tration at the Home end is the most do- 1 sirable of all reforms in the trade. UNSATISFACTORY WRAPPERS. J The flimsy covering of New Zealand' meat is another weakness which we have been told about again and again. Mr' Orbell remarked that the appearance of Argentine meat was a .great improvement on 'much of oux own, due to the better wrapping employed. He gave the pleasing information that several New Zealand companies had arranged for. stronger wrappers. POOLING OF SMALL CONSIGNMENTS. The great value of pooling small con-, signments was dwelt upon at somoi length. Mr Orbell drew a comparison, in this connection, between the system so. general here and the way in which. 1 Argentine meat was shipped, THE GREAT COMPARISON. In concluding his remarks on the want ,of business methods which had charao 'terised the conduct of the New Zealand meat trade up to the present, Mr Orbell eaid: “The Argentine people have-been limning their business side by side with ,onrs. Where we have failed they have .suooeeded. The difference is that they have managed their business on business lines, and we have not." THE FUTURE. Mr Orbell thinks there is still room 1 .for an increase in our export, provided I the business is properly conducted on 'business lines. The statistical position, .is considered to be much bettor thanj fast year, and, ns our meat has un-' idoubtedly found its way during the past .year into outlets unknown before, it. ■ would, lie thought, make itself apparent during the new season, and prices would bo upon a considerably higher level..