Frozen Meat.

Otago Witness, Issue 1910, 29 June 1888, Page 22

Frozen Meat.

Editor Witness. — Sir : As one who has considerable experience of the frozen meat traile, I should like ■to place before producers the real meaning of a movement which is now going on in Canterbury. Circulars have been freely issued by the Canterbury Freezing Company and the Wellington Meit Export Company inviting producers of fhpL'p'to come under obligation to_ supply stock for an extended time in consideration of freight being obtainable at the rate of Id per Ib. If th ;< ? be the only inducement producers should think well before responding to the invitations. A sli^'it modificatidn is to be made in the charge for freezing, but none is suggested in* the charges for storage and selling in London, where the bulk of the expenses are incurred, and where these accumulate unless consignments' are skilfully handled. I t may not have occurred to shippers of Frozen meat that one consignee may hold for sale an aggregate of from 40,000 to 50,000 care. .mvs h"lona:ing to various constituents, and that u,)"ii tlm principle of first come first served the ltsr, unfortunate, arrival must incur storage rihars'canntil its turn comes, round ; or it may bf> that. "tu« arrivals within a given, time are t.oialistd, and that each week's or month's sales it re proportioned. In such case A, who has s'tipued'a prime lot, may have to accept tho ~.^erage price of the week or month, where, had >'ie shipment' been separately dealt with, the i■• burns might have been more favourable. It is vuiH known that recent account sales of frozen inhtton hnve boon far from satisfactory, aud I'iafc there, are iustauees where, after deducting ; H otiarges, the net results have been microsco- \ i- «I— some proof that the supply has more tbao equalled the demand. 1 ' •

,;' The points ■no^ftfr.pr,oducers l to consider, are: • What ! is" jthe-, pjrobaplej future of .the English* market \ 0 Afe.the'.prbspects.such^'s { to,,justify them jin, binding -themselYes hard and, fast to ( 'supply; stock' for a' specified 'teroi — in' ; short', to take the risks of seasons here and priceß in England during the same period?' And upon what pretext'are these Bolicitatiobs of the freezing companies! made? '"To obtain a 'reduction in the rate of, freight," state the circulars, t May thero not, however, be other' considerations P. Is it not desirable to keep the freezing works going?, Are there not establishments to be maintained suad commissions to, be earned? . At whose risk and expense? "Come into my parlour,* said the spiderjto the fly." , „., . ; , Producers may well ponder whether' it is not rather their province to sell on the spot th'au' adopt the risk of shipping on their own account, and come, as they ' are invited to do, under obligation to ship nolens wlens.' It is within thebdundsbf truthto state that alreadythere ' are those who are repenting having, come under similar gaurantees. Is it wise to put co many . eggs in one. basket? Is it .unwise to accept the nimble ninepenco in preference to waiting for. , the slow shilling ? Experience shows , ,thnb the, English .market, can .take a regular yet not an unlimited st^pply if fair prices are to be maintained,. The c.arrying'faqilities are now practically iri excess of jbhe^ declared' requirements; the shipovyner'. is'coristrained^ to jpurchase or otherwise to utilise the*' space appropriated to frozen' meat.! Yefc in the T face"bf this, arid of the very poor ijetur'ns to shippers of- frozen meat, there are those who recommend still- further adding to a congested 'market, and increasing burdens already joppressive; — I am, &c., - June 36. * ' „> - > Faib. Trade,