THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1912. THE MEAT TRADE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15384, 22 February 1912, Page 6

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1912. THE MEAT TRADE.

The survey of the trade in frown meat for the past year as contained in the annual reports issued by Messrs \V. Woddol and (Jo. and the Colonial ConMgnnient and Distributing Company, coupled with the forecasts given of the prospects for business during the current season, arc on the whole encouraging

1 enough. Perhaps the iw*t significant comment in tlio-se reports is that made ; by Messrs Woddel when they say: by the decrease in the total ; weight ot imports from Now Zealand, ; following on a comparatively small expansion for several years previously, it | would nlnwst appear as if that source : of supply had. nearly reached its limit of production under present conditions, except for lambs." The figures on which this comment is based show, as compared with 1910. a shrinkage of 195,856 car--1 eases, or nearly 10 per cent., of mutton . and a small increase of 10,877 car oases of lamb. Thus, despite the fact that two new freezing works-the Tokomaru Bay and the Wellington Farmers,—erected in 1910. came into operation last year, the exports of meat from the Dominion— viz., 111,970 tons—was 19,880 tons fewer than in 1910, which compares somewhat disapiKjintindy with the quantity shipped as far back as in 1903—viz., 109,755 tone. This, however, is the inevitable ! result of a closer settlement policy, tinder j which the expansion of the m«it industry • cannot procecd proportionately with pre-

coding years. Moreover, tlm Bamo symptoms of ahrinkago arc disccrniblo in Australia, whilo South America alona shows adequate expansion. While this lessening export from tho Doniinioit may bo satisfactorily accounted for, nnothor point mentionod by Messrs Wcddcl is calculated to catmo uneasiness--viz., the irregularity of shipments. Under this head tho report reads-. "Arrivals from Australia and New Zealand were again characterised by much irroguhritv, which might have been avoided by some cooperation nmonfjst shippers, particularly in New Zealand. When receipts ranged as thoy did from 761,144 lamhs in May down to 5378 in December, and from 304,590 sheep in May down to 2283 sheep in December, it was manifestly liopcl«=s to try to securo any continuity of custom. And, further, when Argentine so regulates its erporlfi as to conlino tlio monthly imports between 114,213 lambs in December and 27,821 in March, and between 282,502 sheep in December and 147,533 in March, it can only bo a question of time till Argentine produce will role the market for tho greater part of the year, Unless, therefore, somo means of better regulating tho Australian and New Zealand exports can bo devised Australasian shippers must be content to seo all effective control of tho British meat markets slipping from their gr.mp."

Apart from those special features, the part year's business may be Adjudged .satisfactory. The demand ww well up to the average, and, if prices showed a shade of decline, it has to be remembered tltat 1910 was a. year of exceptionally high values. Much was expected last year from the Continental demand, but as yet this trade- is evidently in its infancy. During tho twelve months the total direct shipments from South America. New Zealand, and Australia to Continental ports amounted to 20,350 tons of beef, mutton, add lamb, of which the. Argentine claimed' the lion's share. Tliis, however, does not include transhipment.-, of which no separate account is given. There- was a time not so long since when the Argentine was regarded as a serious rival to New Zealand meal interest. l !, but it is fast becoming evidentthat the world's demand is able readily to absorb all available supplies. Thus the report that Argentine lambs now compare very favourably with tho best received from the Commonwealth may be accepted with a degree of equanimity formerly impossible. The time is near at hand when North America, at one time a considerable exporter of meat, will become a large importer, and South America is naturally the source from which the required supplies will be drawn. Apart from the danger of labour troubles, tho prospects for tho coming reason are reasonably bright, and, other 'things being equal, there should be n strong consumptive demand in the United Kingdom for all classes of imported meat during 1912. And Messrs Weddel conclude : "As there is no prospect of any increase of supplies from homo flocks and herds, nor much likelihood of large increases from Australia, the' hopes of British consumers would appear to lie entirely with the South American grower. Expectations as regards Continental demand havo been so often disappointed that it would be imprudent to reckon on any largo support to tho market coming from that sourcoj but on tho wholo it would seem probable that unless Argentine shippers should again flood this market with supplies of chilled beef. prices can hardly fail 'to be maintained during 1912."