THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1989, 10 April 1890, Page 7

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Few, even in New Zealand itself, have, I imagine, realised how rapidly the meat and produce trade is increasing, and what a largo fleet of steamers now iB engaged in it. Fairplay calculates that 37 vessels with a tonnage of over 132,000 tons, and a carrying capaoity of 1,200,000 carcasses, are now plying between England and the oolony. Twenty-seven of these are steamers and 10 sailing vessels.

This line is estimated to carry 224,000 carcassea per annum. Of the 10 sailing ships engaged in the frozen meat trade, seven belong to the Shaw, Savill, and Albion, of the aggregate of 9998 tons, with capacity for carrying 87,000 carcassea per annum, while only three belong to the New Zealand Company, carrying 34,000 carcasses per annum. The total carrying power affected to New Zealand, summarised from the above, provides for the transport to England, in a Bingle year, of 2,220,300 carcasses, while the most favourable estimates do not. place the number of oaroasses likely to be available at over 1,500,000, Consequently, someone will have to go short— who? is the knotty question to be determined. It has been suggested, however, that there is a tendency to exaggeration in the above figures, and they are therefore apt to be misleading.' Messrs Weddel and Co. estimate the carrying capacity of tbe vessels at present engaged in the trade at 1,850,000 carcasses, as the net space available for mutton iB frequently reduoed by an inorease in the ship menta of butter, cheese, &c, and support their argument by instanoing two vessels, the Tongariro and the Arawa. In the above Hat the former is put down as carrying 30,000 carcasses, whereas on her laßt trip she only brought 18,745, and about 1000 quarters of beef, the remainder of the space being taken up by butter, &o. The Arawa, instead of the 36,500 she iB credited with, brought under 28,000, and about 1200 quartern beef. The above figures are based on the eatimate that a carcass of mutton averages 561b, whereas New Zealand mutton last year averaged well over 601b. Messra Weddel are of opinion that owing to the great development of the trade, and the material economies effeoted in working these cargo steamers, the shipping companies will shortly be in a position to make substantial reductions in freight, and would probably do so forthwith were it not for the difficulty of getting good outward freights. They further urge that shipowners might make some concession in freight by making tbeir present rate include insurance against "all risk." " Shipowners," they say, " have speoial facilitiea fcr safeguarding the condition of the mutton; and with careful supervision in the colony, as well as on the voyage, they ought to be able to get the risk written at a considerable reduction on the present rate."— Star's London correspondent.

Mr John Shand, of Centre Bush, has placed the following account sales of 16 trucks of lamhn, forwarded to Burnside Freezing Works, at tho disposal of the Southland Times for public information and encouragement, and as an example of the benefits conferred upon the farmer by the freezing process. From the facts that out of 1018 lambß not one was rejected at the worki, and that the price realised is the biggest of the season, while the weight was fully 31b per head abov- 1 the nejft best lot, it is evident that with skill nnd attention Southland is able to grow mutton against the oolony i — Or. By 1018 lambs, 44.9791b, at 3£d ... £655 18 11 1018 skins, at 3s 3d ... ... 16i 8 6 Fat, 29owt lqr 61b, at 18s 3d ... 26 14 10 £348 3 3 Dr. To Railage ... ... £59 0 0 Oommi»BioD,2§ per cent. 21 4 1 SO 1 1 £767 38 2 which gives an average of a fractiou over 15s Id per head net cash, clear of all expenses.

SHAW, SAVILL, AND ALBIOM lilfltf. Tonnage. Carcasses. Coptic ... ... 4418 36,000 ionic ... ... 4753 36.500 Doric ... ... 4784 38.500 Tainui ... ... 5031 36,600 Arawa ... ... 6026 36,500 Mamarl ... ... 3583 38,000 Matatua ... ... 3000 38,000 Maori ... ... 3790 36,000 Total ... ... 33,415 390,000 The estimated voyages will give this line oi iteamors 798,400 carcasses per annum. NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING COMPANY. Tonnage. Carcasses. Tongariro ... ... 4163 30,000 Aorangi ... ... 4163 30,000 Ruapehu ... ... 4163 30,000 Katkoura ... ... 4474 36,000 Bimutaka ... ... 4474 36,000 Total ... ... 21,437 162,000 DUCAL LINK. Tonnage. Carcasses. Duke of Westminster ... 3726 35,000 Duke of Buckingham ... 3123 35,000 Duke ... ... 3100 35,000 Total ... ...31,386 267,000 Fhe estimated voyages will give this line f28,400 carcasses per annum. TYSBR LINK. Tonnage. Carcasses. Balmoral Castle ... 3050 39,000 Ashleigh Brooke ... 2863 38,000 Bayley ... ... 2607 37,000 Star ofViotoria ... 3240 39,000 Star of England ... 3511 41,000 Maori King ... ... 3700 40,000 Celtic King ... ... 3700 40,000 Total ... ...22,071 274,000 Phis line also runs to Queensland, and the jatimated voyages are reckoned to be equal ;o 348,000 oaroaßses from New Zealand poi mnum. MABTIN LINK. Tonnage. Carcasses. BldersHe ... ... 2761 28,000 . Flfeshire ... ... 3720 28,000 Morayshire ... ... 3720 28,000 Nairnshire ... ... 3720 28,000 Total ... ...13,921 112,000