The Frozen Meat Trade. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2289, 13 January 1898, Page 7

The Frozen Meat Trade. TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, — I beg to be allowed to express the opinions of an amateur re the Frozen meat trade, my excute for doing go being that *ny changes that may be suggested must, I think, be for the better, as the trade ia surely and steadily going dovrn hill. I notice the price for lambs, especially, has considerably receded, aod I think I can point out one reason. Much of the lamb now exported is weaned and then fattaned on rape. The British consumer finds he has to pay at least double that charged for mutton, and the meat ia very similar, being in fact only young mutton. L&mb loses its fl&vour after losing the mother's milk. The lambs should be fattened running with thek mother, on English graap, aud taken direct to the abattoirs. Then you get lamb in its true fkvour. Anyone doubting this try it, and note the difference. This is a matter for the small sheep-farmers and lamb agents. Let the agents buy in the paddocka and not at the saleyards, and the farmer should annually contrive to have a supply of young grass for these ewes and lambs.

The best breed is, I think, Shropshire rams, with good halfbred ewes (not old scrubbers). Progeny : Poor fLeces on lambs, but splendid meat and early maturity. If such lambs were well got up for shipment, carefully handled and looked after, and quicklyplaced before the consumer — even at an extra cost of Id per Ib — the cost would be recouped a hundredfold after the consumer had found out the d.fference; and New Zealaud lamb would take its right pkee— viz., the premier position, commanding the highest price in the -world's market. In conclusion I would point out that nothing will p»y the small sheepfarmer like fat lambs, for with care and plenty of food, and placing the ment in the Homo markets at the right time — viz., just before English lamb comes in — each ewe should return 8s for lamb and 3s for fleece. This io only what may be fairly looked for, and would be largely exceeded when the consumer found oub the difference iv quality. Hoping my letter will cause the matter to ba further criticised by men more experienced, — I am, &3., Middlemarch, Dec. 30. Edward Clahk 4