OUR RABBIT EXPORT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14244, 19 June 1908, Page 7

OUR RABBIT EXPORT

» — A DYING INDUSTRY. ' BRIGHT TROSPECT FOR APPLES. MR TONKIN INTERVIEWED. Mr W. .T. Tonkin, of Tonkin and Co., who recently returned to Duncdin from a visit to Great Britain, had in tlm course of an interview yestorday a Rood deal of interest to say conoorninj; certain New Zealand exports and their reception and prospects in the English markets. Mr Tonkin said that in England the demand for rabbits was increasing every year, but that demand was for the right kind of stuff. New Zealand rabbits only comprised a very small proportion of the total'quantity consumed, for the simple reason that tho frozen rabbits imported from Australia, woro Of a much bettor quality than those from the Dominion. The reason for this was that Australian rabbits received more careful handling in preparing them for export. Or. arrival in England the Australian rabbits were opened up; tho flesh had a white and attractive appearance, principally due to the fact that the rabbits bad been bled. On tho other hand, New Zealand -abbits on beiii;; opened and partially thawed woro seen to have a reddish tinjre, ami did not appeal to tho prospective buyer to tho same extent as if the rabbit had boon properly bled at the time of irappinp. At tho present time it was a most difficult matter to sell New Zealand rabbits forward, and it could with safety be said that unless there was a deckled improvement as to quality the business was practically on its last legs. Mr Tonkin, being interested in tho shipment of apples from Tasmania, Teadily and lucidly replied to our representative's questions concerning trade prospects. He was under the impression that there was absolutely no reason why a good export business should not bo done in New Zealand apples, not only for the London, but for the South American, markets.,' Mr Tonkin is also interested to a considerable extent in hemp, and was in London when the slump in prices occurred. Ho knew of parcels of fair grade New Zealand hemp being sold as low as £20 10s c.i.f. This state of affairs generally was attributed by the hemp merchants to the great depression in America, as the principal merchants in that country controlled the hemp market in Manila, and were pushing sales at low prices. As may have been expected, Mr Tonkin was a frequent visitor at the meat markets in London,' where he was pleased to learn that thero is an excellent demand for New Zealand lamb, and his investigations quite satisfied him that in this export business New Zealand has splendid prospects before her. Every shipment Cm arrival passed quickly into consumption. Stocks woro light, with plenty of buyers forward. On a certain occasion, when staying at his old home at Truro, Mr Tonkin firmly believed ho was eating English lamb, and was surprised to learn that it was frozen New Zealand. Mr Tonkin left, last November in the, "Morayshire, but owing to a 10 days' delay at Monte Video) (where tho vessel took in more frozen meat), he transhipped to another vessel bound for England. His friends will be glad to know that the trip has dono Mr Tonkin a great deal of good ' as regards health. London specialists recommended a rest in Devonshire, and a course of brine baths, and the consequence is that Mr Tonkin has come back fit for business.