THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1916, 10 August 1888, Page 14

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

THE QUESTION OF REDUCING FREIGHT. A special meetiug of the shareholders of the Southland Frozen Meat and Produce Export Company was held on Saturday afternoon. Mr J. Turnbull presided, and about 40 shareholders were present. We abridge the following from the Southland Times : — The Chairman explained that the meeting had been called so that certain proposals made by Tyser's Colonial Union Shipping Company might be laid before the shareholders. Some 12 months ago an arrangement had been entered into with Tyser and Co. to carry frozen meat to Britain for l£d per lb, the Frozen Meat Company guaranteeing 30,000 carcasses per annum. • That contract was for two years, but the Shipping Company were now able to make overtures to the Freezing Company, inviting them to increase the number of carcasses guaranteed with a view to the reduction of the freight. The offer of the Shipping Company was to reduce the freight to Id per lb if 60,000 carcasses per annum were guaranteed. The directors of the Frozen Meat Company had been unwilling to allow such an excellent opportunity to pass without consulting the shareholders and ascertaining if it were possible to increase the guarantee as required. It was a matter of great importance, because the reduction of the freight to Id per lb meant a large saving to the producers. He would point out particularly' that if the new contract were entered into, tha old one, which otherwise would hold good for another year, would merge in it, so that tfyer'e would be the direct saving of |d per lb upon the next 12 months' export. If so favourable an arrangement could be made as to have tho freight reduced to Id, Southland would be iv a better position than any other part of the colony— except Napier, perhaps, where a similar concession had been granted — to carry on the trade. The shareholders were therefore invited to do the best they could to enable their directors to enter into the proposed contract with the Tyser Cornany. — On the motion of Mr A. L. Wilson the action of the directors was confirmed, and it was resolved to invite sheepowners to guarantee 46,000 carcasses per annum. In the discussion which followed, Mr Carswell said there seemed to be some doubt as to whether the district wag able to supply 60,000 sheep per annum for export. He was sure that far more than that number could be sent away ; in fact he knew that more than 30,000 per year were sent from here to the Dunedin market alone. — Mr Halliday said if the company would accept fowls he knew of one man who was prepared to supply £5000 worth of fowls per annum for exportation. — It was resolved to keep open the guarantee list till Friday next.