ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2139, 21 February 1895, Page 15

ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

The following interesting review cf the frozan meat trade for the past year is given by the New Zf aland Loan and Mercantile Agercy Coaipsny for December 29 :—: — While in our review of 1893, we had to chronicle the worst year experienced since the inception of the industry, the course of events during the 12 months just drawing to a close has in some respects proved even more disastrous, prict s of New Zealand mutton and Australian mutton and beef having for a considerable period stood at a lower level than ever previously recorded. This was largely brought about by the irregularity with which shipments reached this market, for while arrivals only iv the year were light, supplies wore subsequently poured in with a rapHity quite beyond the rate of consumption. As a result of this mistaken policy, stocks became abnormal, trade was disorganized, and for some time, in consequence of the depression which prevailed in the industrial centres throughout the countiy tbe demand proved quite unequal to effect a tangible rcducti 'ii in their volume. Importations of frozen mutton and lamb show a miiteiiil increase as compared with previous years. On the other h»nd in the total receipts of f)eef there is a falling off, as though tbe quantity imported from Australia is larger, practically none was i-hipped from New Zealand, while in tbe cape of the River Plite there was a marked shrinkage. The following tables show the importations into the United Kingdom during 1894 as compared with 1893, 1892, and 1891 : Mutton and Lamb.

Importations of meat and of animals for food from most other sources mark an increase notably in the case of American chilled beef aud of live cattle and sheep. As veaavds cattle the increase came from the United Status, while the sheep v era shipped principally from the United States, Canada, Iceland, and Rivu- Plate. Tbe quantities up to No\ ember 30 were as follows : — 1852. 1893. 1894. German <fc Dutch Mutton (cwts)... 154,079 155.073 172,752 Chilled beef „ ... 1,765,5)00 1,357,020 1,655,509 Cattle (number) 472.57 C 319,331 450,:»S Shcrp & lambs „ 75.545 61,<i8i 438,821 A i.ew fiaturc was the imputation of chilled mutton from the Us i ted St* e j , the ouautity received being upwards of 1000 toLS The quality, howevvr, was for the most part very poor, and tho meat did 7iot retain its bloom. Supplies of Home-fed beef and mutton were mo'Jcra'e, tha season having been exceptionally favourable for stockowners. Copious raius have fallen throughout the year, pastur.ige has been luxu'iiiot, the hay and root crv>2>s have been abumlaiit, while the winter b.emg mild and open evublod fa-iners to husband their sujpli's. '1 hia teuded to pievent owners from pressing their stock tipon the market as they did last year in consequence of the drought. Under bheae circumstances ii higher range of values ruled, as will lie gathered from the table of prices subjoined. The number of cattle and sheep in Great Britain on June 4 List showed a considerable decie^se as compared with the two previous jea>s, viz :— 1894. IPO3. 189?. Cattle ... 6,347,113 6,700,676 6,944,783 Slieep ... 25,861,500 27,280,334 28,734,704 Under ordinary circum-itancss some advance might be expected to accrue to the colonial producer from this marked decrease in Home supplies of mutton, but that lhtle or no benefit was experierccd fiora this cause is doubtless in some measure to be attributed to the large increase ia the uuinber of live sheep imporied. Considerable numbers were received from the Itiver Plate, a fea'ure which is of interest to growers in Aus■tralasi i, the prices seemed, say, from 32s to 42s per head having proved profitable to shippers, with tbe n-sult that operations are extending. The fact BhouM not be lost bight of, howeve-r, that the attendant expenses do not, on average, exceed about lGs per head, a feature in striking contrast to the experience of Australian shippers, the large expenditure incurred iv the case of the trial shipment* of live stock from New South Wales causing ti cir ventures to result in a loss. It seems prob bl» that next yen 1 such shipments from Auatra'iA •.ill tike place on a moie extended scale, and tru'.i-.hly sheep vrii 1 prove more profitable than cattl?, provided crossbitd descriptions suited to the requirements of this market are shipp. d. The carefu' consideration of this point should commend itself not only to Australian but also New Zealand growers. Little if any improvement can be reported in the condition of frozen meat upon arrival, a large qu»n ity having been discharged from carrying vessels in a damaged condition. Complaints of f'bone stink" in New Zealand mutton were frequent, the meat so affected comiog from various ports including Chrittchurch. The bad effects of

this description of damage cryenot bo over estit'matcd, as in some cases it is most difficult to discover the defect untill the carcase is cut up, and it therefore happens that unbound meat gets into tV-e hands of retuilpra, great dip-atisf.iction and prejudice being thereby created. While it is satisfactory to observe that clauses which have hitherto found a pbee in bills of lading throwing upon th* shipowner the onus of damage up to the amount of freight charged have at certain port? notably at GhrUtcbureh, been expunged there-fr<-m, impracticable conditions are still found in the majority of lmuine policies of insuiance, and it is a-suredly time that a c inference of those concerned be convened, with a few to formulating clauses, which would afford a f»ir ami workable basis for dealing with dnnnged meat at port of discharge. It isfteely admitted by thepriuciial underwriters that it is impossible to asses* the damage as the meat is delivered fivin the stores, while it is equally impossible to do so at time of discharge from carrying vessels, end it is manifest, therefore, that the clauses calling for one or the other of these operations should at once be eliminated. The. very heavy supplies of frozen meat which reached this market dori-'g the second and third quarters of tbe jear led to serious difficulty in the matter of finding storage accommodation, and by tbe end of 'une the whole of the stores were full. This rcultcd in the discharge of several vessels being seriously delayed, notwithstanding that in order ti relieve the congestion the Lady Jocelyn, Eh'eivlic, Duke of Westminster, Port Pine, and Gulf of Genoa were chartered as store ships. Having regard to the state of affairs it was to be expected that c-rtain holders would be comptlkd to pre3S tales beyond the rcquirtments of the market, and to thid must, in part, be attributed the low levels of values at which so much frozen meat was sold. Had supplies been spread more evenly over the j'ear the difficulty in finding storage accoinui'idnlion, and the attendant disastrous results, would not have arisen. It may bo added, however, that to guard, as far as possible, against a recurrence of such a state of affairs prompt action has been taken to provide additional cold storage pp^ce, more particularly by the London and India Docks Joint Committee, and next year the accommodation available in London will be sufficient for the storage at any one time of about 1,000,000 carcases. The stores in course of erccti.-n at SmirhfieM by the Lonrio'i aud India Docks Joint Committee will be ready ab"ut Jute next and will hold 80,000 carcases, wbile the new stoics at the West India Dock, to be completed in the spring, will accommodate 100,000 ca>c .ses. The extra storage space at the Victoria Dock now nearly ready is fur 50,000 carcases, while as regards tlie provinces, no w stores at Manchester, cjpablc of containing about ICO.OOO c.-»r-cases will shortly be available. A fresh attempt to establish a frozen meat importers' association was not successful, *nd though a committee w.is elected i(. wa.s quickly fou><d, as in the ctse of previous efforts iv that ditcction, that the conflicting interests at stake precluded any good purpose being served, and the pioject w»s accordingly abandoned. NEW ZEALAND MUTTON. The year 1894 opened with excellent prospects for the New Zealan 1 mutton trade. Stocks were within reasonable compass, prices were fairly satisfactory and the market firm, while in consequence of last year's drought it seemed probable that supplies both of lloine-groH-n and Continental ramtnii would be lighter, and values consequently higher than dining 1803. A=; events turned ou v , fo far as regards the first quarter, this proved to Lc the case, as -with moderate arriv.ils stocks were woikcd off at high prices, and at the end of March the stores were practically empty. Dining the tecuud qiurter, however, with aug-ment-d supplies, prices gradually gave way, while during the list Eix ir onths, with stores full and a trnde far from active, prici-s touched a lower level tr.au e\er previously recorded. The following table of arrivals will serve clearly to show the position dining each quarter : —

From the foregoing it vrill be seen that the total arrivals show an increase of 7 per cent., and although tbe average of the daily top price for the 12 months Is the same as last year— viz., 4Jd per lb, the actual rates realised for the bulk of meat sold were sensibly lower. It cannot too strongly be urged that every effort should be \is*>d to ensure supplies next year being sent forward more regularly, as not only does a glut depress values but a shortness of supplies disorganises the trade and forces it into other channels. This was observable iua marked degree during the year under ieview, and it is probable that the congestion could have been avoided had supplies been more ample during the firot quarter. The quality of the New Zealand mutton as a whole cannot be said to have shown any improvement upon that of 1893. This again, was particularly noticeable in the case of North Canterbury sheep, a considerable proportion of which came to hand wastefully fat and very spare of lean meat, while a large number of plain carcases were interspersed. The mutton received from the Otago and Southland districts was on the whole of good quality though the number of plain carcases from Southland might with advantage have been reduced. The bulk of North Island sheep wai not up to the customary standard in point of quality many being of a poor description. The improvement in the quality and the heavier weights of the sheep received from Australia and the River Plate should not be lost Bight of by New Zealand growers, as increased

LEsSSraaKTWI

competition fiuin tlio*e centres is inevitable. The price* ruling at tho commencement of tho year were for North Oiutcrbury 4Jd to 4Jd and for av< rage gr.ules 4'l to 4\ per lb. Stock* were in moderate compass ami being in few hands an advance of about Jil per lb wa=i established. Arrivals being light this wh.s maintained, notwithstanding this blow demand ruling, until the end of Tebiuaiy. Anivals continuing to be veiy light prices advanced during Mai cb, the highest point for the yt-ar being reached at the end cf that month— viz., 5-1 to s}d for North Canterbury and 4 5-Sd to 4 7-8 d for average grades, the shortness of supplier at this particular period being in a measure brought about by the delay in the arrival of the Duke of Westminster." Meat subsequently anived in much larger quantities, and dire.tly available stocks become augmented values rapidly declined, the trade having to some extent become disorganised consequent upon the scarcity during March, the decline by the end of Api-il amounting to id per lb. The demand was very slow during IVJ-*y, and fctocks commencing to accumulate the value of prime New Zealand mutton dropped to 4d perlb, and though there was a tcmpoiary improvement, eales being pressed by certain holders, quotations at the end of June receded to SJd to 4d tmd3}d to 3Jd for prims and aveiage grades. The stores at this period were full, stocks consisting largely of sccomlt'.iy sheep, and with continued pressure to effect sales values during July fell to 3Jd t.j 33d for prime, aud about 3d per lb for secondary, a fin th or id perlb being lost during September in the case of North Canterbury. No permanent relief being experienced as regards storage accommodation, quotations in October receded to 3}d to 31d and 2jd to 3d for fir.-t and second qualities, at which level they remained until the proeent month, when with lighter arrivals a successful attempt was made to advance them, resulting in an improvement of id to Jd per lb.

AUSTRALIAN MUTTON.

Importations during 1894 show an increase of 290.50S ca,rca c es, or 45 per cent , tho arrivals, save during the iirat qua»ter, being throughout heavier than duriiig 1893. It is sat isfactory to record that, judged as a whole, the quality was much superior to that hitherto received from Australia the number of crossbred and halfbred carcases being much larger and the average weights heavier. In view of the probability of shipments being still further increased iv tbe near future, this improvement is very encouraging and will materially assist in dealing with any augmentation in supplier. Throughout the period uuder review keen competition was encountered in consequence of the inferior quality of much of the mutton received fruin New Zealand aud the improved quality of hui>plies received from the River Mate, whilst livalry amongst sellers as well as scat city of stoiage accommodation more than once brought about a decline in values. As in the case of Nsw Zealand, the year's trade proved unsatisfactory to shippers, as for eight mouths out of thetwelve prices ruled below 3d per ll>, while the average top price for the labt six mouths docs not exceed 23d per lb, the average price for the year, 2Jd per lb, being id per lb lower than in 1803. The year opened with a. satisfactory level of values— viz., ij*d perlb, while during January an adv«nce of about Ad per lb took place, some exceptionally good cioss'-red cai oases realising up to 4Jd per lb. Supplies became heavier dining February, and values ruled from 3§d to 3^d per lb, and although prices weie fairly well maintaino.l during March, at the end of the month with heavier arrivals a fall to 3gd perlb was recorded. 1 here was considerable competitiou amongst sellers dm ing April, while shipments fiom the Kivcr Plate were heavy, with the result that prices marked a sharp decline, quotations dropping to fr m 2£d to 23d per lb. During May prices fell&ti'l fuithcr, the inquiry being inactive and holdei> pressing feiles, but with a ces&'ition of the undue competition amongst sellers prices in June were raided .}ri per lb in spite of Ihe heavy stocks. The demand during July and early August was slow, and values declined to from2dtt2ld per lb, but an ad\ ance of 2il per lb was spcuied before the end of the latter month as tbe ic s ult of the improved position of the River Plate mutton. Arrivals were heavy during .September, and this, together with the sale of the damaged meat ex;liinaru, caused a d-.cline of Id per lb. Stocks being consi'ltiubly in oxcj'-s of requirements quotations from this point took a continuously downward course until the middle of November, when 2d )>er lb wa.s recorded. Holders of b.-th Australian and Itiver Plate mutton subsequently acted more in concert, and prices, notwithstanding the heavy stocks have gradually advanced to their prest nt level. (To be continued.)

The farmers about Gore have not gone in heavily this year for grain growing. I have only seen about 200 acres of wheat, and that very poor, in this district, and the cat crop is similar to that in most other places in the south. Frcm inquiries I made throughout tha district the Hessian fly is not nearly so troublesome this year. The natural enemy ou the one hand and the precautions taken by tbe farmers of burnicg all affected strew, ecem to have had the effect of very materially checking the ravages of the pest. There is a large area under crop about Riversdale (Waimea Plains), Mr Wilson Hall havirg 3000 acres on hia own account. The crops, except in odd patches, are very light. Tbe barvrat is now in fnll swiDg in the district, the farmers taking full advantage of the beautiful weather. Although there is a lot of crop in the Riversdale district, the place is already overdone as regards labour. The place simply swarms with men, and the cry is, " Still they come ! " — by road and by rail. A number of men are camped in tents about the township, and have been here for a fortnight, and have not got work yet. Both the hotels arc full, and the township, at least, has a lively appearance. The wages are lower than they have been for years. All the

Ticneetin to hwo got it into their heads that tho Waimea Plains was the place to go for harvest. This is a great mistake. The place is quit* overdone, and I hope you will use your irjiluence, through tho medium of your valuable paper, to correct that imprest-ion as far ss the men in the Oamaru district are concerned. No doubt a large number of men, when the harvent is over in North Otago, will flock down here as usual. If th«y do they will come on n fool's errand. The time of big wages and big cheques hss gone by. Report says that the man who baa taken the contract to atcok 3000 acres for Mr Wilson Hall has dona so for 8d per acre and find himstlf. The men he employs are getting 8d per hour. Some men are working for their tucker until the lending-in starts. Some men, agaiu, who are without money, are harvesting tor £1 and 25s a week. A workers' union in a neighbouring district eventually passed a resolution to the effect that 9d per hour was to be Iho wage for harvett. Now, what is the good of that when men are without money and do not know where to get the next feed ? Tbe thing is absolute nonsense. Here again a labouring man takes a contract to etook several thousands of acres of crop at such a low rate that he is compelled to sweat the men under him to make it pay. As long as there are dczena of men knocking about here out of wotk it would be madness on the part of northern men to come down where ceitain disappointment awaits them.

A large number of men, taking advantage of tho lowness of the Mataura, are beachcombing, and doing well, making from 7s to 8s per day. Plenty of men looking for harvest would be glad to go and try their hand, but have neither the experience in saving the gbM nor even the necessary £3 or £4 for the outfit. Any Oamaru men who are determined to come south I would strongly advise to stay at Mrs Stewart's Coffee Palace, Gore. It i« without doubt the finest boarding house of its kind in tbe colony. It is just perfection.

The grass seed threshing is just about over, the yield and quality being very fair.

THE CROPS IN THE SOUTH. Correspondent of the Oamaku Mail

I 1592. r 1893. I ISU4. O 6 I! a, H 4 J, w C 3 O 6 o" E-i o v a d. U 5« ! i § o i| & o H g. o (1. i 3 i First qnaster... >Second quarter Iliird quarter Pourtli quarter 217.05P 223,524 1.3U.353 30J.616 388,539 3-J6.762 359,885' 3,419,852' 155,562 444,879 538,952 372,306 1511,699 — Totals ...'

From 1891. 1892. 1893. 1891. t. Zealand ojstralia ... liver Plate 'alkland Islands... carcase s. 1,81)2,271 335,192 1,129,571 carcases. 1.J.39,487 505,024 1,249,214 carcase. 1,895,546 6-{»,153 1,36:},C05 carcsfs. 1,9(tt,30S 5)30,901 1,376,712 18,931 3,475.965 17,822 3,311,547 16,135| 3,915,729' 11.561 1 4,282,692 Bkef. From 1891. 1892. ( 1893. I I 1894. f. Zealand Australia... ►iver Plate qrs and pieces GB,tfTs 28 586 11,889 109,450 qrs and pieces 35,720 45,250 6,702 87,(572 qrs and piec-s 8,408 163,022 27,334 395.764 qrs ond piece 1,131 178,995 3,8i4 183,970