Untitled

Otago Witness, Issue 2230, 26 November 1896, Page 4

FARM AND STATION.

THE AUSTRALIAN MEAT TRADE.

At a conference of representatives of freezing companies in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, recently held in Sydney, and at meetings held subsequently of head managers of banks and financial companies largely interested in pastoral pursuits, it was determined that efforts should be made to promote the profitable expansion of the Australian meat export trade by regulating supplies to foreign markets, by supervision as to quality of the goods shipped, and by providing for a speedy and efficient distribution of consignments at port of arrival. . The frozen meat companies in the colonies named have formed a confederation entitled "The Australian Meat Export Association," and with this body the banks and financial companies co-operate with the view to promote the important trade concerns. As a result of their deliberations Mr R. E. N. Twopeny is now on their behalf on his way to London, the object of his mission being the establishment of a London committee to act with the Australian association in the interests of the frozen meat trade. The London committee which it is designed to organise will be formed of the managers of banks and financial companies interested in Australian pastoral industries. Interviewed by a representative of the Adelaide Obeserver, Mr Twopeny before his departure for London gave an outline of his instructions and proposed action. " The object of the London committee," he said, " will be to regulate the trade on their side of the world, just as the assocUtion will do it* part in Australia. The reason the backs and fin-.noial companies are concerned is that they have large pastoral interests in Australia, and also a good deal of influence in London. They will be appealed to to act as mediators between the frozen meat companies in Australia and the meat importers in London. The origin of the Australian association has been the fact that the trade at present is not being profitably carried on, and if it cannot be better regulated a good many of the frozen meat works must be stiuc down a coneideMblo jjottion of the je»r, That moans that

the export will be reduced instead of going ahead, and the amount of surplus stock will reduce the value of stock throughout the colonieß." Mr Twopeny proceeded to explain that the points to which the freezing companies attach importance are tha better supervision of the meat on its) arrival in London from the ship to the niavkut, the better inspection of the markets thembulves, and common action in matters of freight, iDSurtvnce, the fixing of uniform terms, and the regulation of prices in times of glut. The Australian association propose dealing with such questions a* the supervision of thu low-class sneit which has led in a great measure to the injury of the reputation of Australian meat al Home. It also proposes to fir a regular standard, so that people will bo enabled to purchase meat of a certain order of excellence set out by the inspector of the association, and which will serve as a guide to the London people. "I am not going Home," said Mr Twopeny, " with the idea of teaching the London people their butin»sfe, but simply to represent to them the views that aiv- held ia Australia, and learn from them suggestions as to the means the association can take iv order to improve matters on this side." He referred to previous efforts made to form combinations in London to keep up prices of frozen meats, and ascribed their breakdown parbly to the fact that they were not backed up by a powerful Australian association, and partly because they were only temporary associations without any bond of cohesion. It is thought that the influence of the banks will be very valuable in that respect. They will exercise a moral authority which will keep the importe s with the association. Importers complain that they never can make any arrangements with the Australians because they do not kuow whom they have to deal with, as there are so many parties who conduct their own business in their own particular way. On the other band, the Argentina business is done by three companies and the North American by five, "while in Australia there are 19 companies, ranging from the Gulf of Carpentaria in the north to Portland in the south. It is the same way with the Australian trade in London. Nearly every Smitbfield salesman imports Australian frozen moat, and a great difficulty is having so many different people interested in one trade," One point to which the Australian association attach much importance is that the London committee will be in a better position to look after the interests of the grower than the ageuts or salesmen. It is proposed that this committee shall have a market inspector, and also an Australian manager, presumably to look after thtir interests as a whole. The extension of the trade is to receive special attention, as it is intended to push the sale of tha meat in the British provinces. Cool stores are to be erected wherever desirable, and the idea is to work with the retail butchers as far as possible, and only to go into the question of opening shops where the retail butchers will not meet them. As ■oon as the London committee is formed, and the responsibility they require is ascertained, the Australian association will complete all other arrangements necessary to the satisfactory development of the trade in the future.