THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2295, 24 February 1898, Page 4

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

(Daily Times.) Messrs W. Weddel and Co. have issued their usual comprehensive review of the frozen meat trade for 1897, and it enables those interested to gain [ some little insight into a business i Avhich seems, however, to baffle all ! inquirers. Last year was not a very prosperous one either for producers or salesmen. Prolonged periods of degression ia price were experienced,

and prices dropped to almost the lowest levels on record. The demand for frozen meat was prejudicially affected by labour troubles, and though a recovery in prices took place towards the end of the year values at the close remained on a very moderate basis. The causes of this are alleged to be simply over-supply and defective condition. Despite alarmist reports of droughts in Australia and an unfavourable season in Kew Zealand, an allround increase of exportation took place. All shippers seemed to anticipate a short supply, and thus brought about the very calamity they feared, and " heavy shipments arrived so continuously that the London and provincial stoi*es became blocked with frozen goods, ships could not be discharged promptly, markets became glutted, and the whole trade was thoroughly disorganised." In addition to this a large number of cargoes arrived in a more or less damaged condition. There were imported to the United Kingdom last year more than ] six millions of frozen sheep and lambs, this being an increase of 10 per cent, on the figures for 1896. Nearly 60 per cent, of the mutton and j lamb imported to the United King- j doni comes from colonial possessions, and it is estimated that the remaining 40 per cent, could be supplied from the same source without difficulty. JSew • Zealand's contribution to the total was nearly two and three-quarter millions j of sheep and lambs. The export of j sheep and lambs from this colony in ) 1897 showed an advance of nearly 500,000 carcases, whereas in 1896 there was a shrinkage of 200,000 carcases. On the other hand, the supply from Australia fell off by some 250,000 carcases. More thafi half of I the New Zealand surplus consisted of j j lambs. Though this colony sent away ' I last year the largest number on record, I the trade fluctuates very considerably, and ifc is found that among all the contributory sources of mutton and lamb the Kiver Plate alone maintains a ' steady rate of expansion. It is note- j worthy that the whole of the New ! Zealand contribution went to the ! port of London, and the tabular record of the trade since its inception shows that out of upwards of 20 millions of carcases sent by New Zealand to the United Kingdom only 80,000 have been sent to another port, and that was Liverpool It was naturally to be expected that a depres- ( sion in prices of New Zealand mutton ] should follow an increased -^output of ! 250,000 carcases, more especially as this followed a decrease of 200,000 in the j previous year. The average of top quotations was the lowest on record, and these were fully 3-16 d per lb lower than in 1896. Furthermore, some of the shipments carried over from the previous season as well as some of the January arrivals were marked by a general inferiority in condition and quality. These were forced on the market and brought the price down to 2|d to 3|rl per lb for prime sheep, and 2-|d to 2-|d for secondary quality. The year was the most disastrous one on record for New Zealand lamb. The supply sent was greater than in any | previous year, but the prices have been altogether inadequate. To begin with, there were considerable stocks of stale lambs on hand, and demand for New Zealand lamb was a little dulled by Australian arrivals iv January and February. A good many lambs had been shipped on consignment or bought by speculators in the hope of a big demand during the Jubilee festivities, bub the demand then failed !to come up to the normal de- ] mand in ordinary years, and prices dropped |d to £d per lb. In Jane no fewer than 243,177 carcases arrived, and even then the stores were already blocked, so that several vessels were unable to discharge. Still heavier shipments came to hand, and prices continued to decline. In September holders consulted with each other, and it was found that stocks on hand amounted to nearly 200,000 carcases, and it was decided to clear them out at • the best prices obtainable, and a slight prolongation of the demand enabled them to dispose of nil surplus stocks, so tliat this year's trade commenced without any incubus to work off. Shippers will do well to note these ■ circumstances, and profit by experience so disastrously gained. It is reported that, speaking generally, the quality of , New Zealand lamb in 1597 was excel- [ lent, though most of the carcases were heavier than is generally desired. The [ number sent forward was 1,022,146, or an increase of 235,318 on the number sent in 1896. An increase of 30 per r cent, could hardly be expected to have , any other result than a depreciating effect on prices. I In view o£ the interesting discussioi

which was raised recently about the use and advantage of the term " Prime Canterbury," it will not be out of place to note what is said in another review of the trade — that of Tnos. Borthwick and Soys. It seems that Canterbury sheep have ruled lowei than ever before known, owing to the other classes of New Zealand mutton coming better than usual. The great fault was the unusual number of heavy, fat sheep. But " the improvement in other classes of ]S T ew Zealand mutton is very marked, some Dunedins being firstclass quality." As to lamb, it is stated that "as in mutton, Dunedin and Oam'aru lambs have come very good, in many cases equal to best Canterbury, but late in the year come heavy and mutton-like. Southlands are a good class, and very much liked by the country buyers, but have no standing, as what with being sent c.i.f. one year and sent on commission through a different agent every season, customers don't know where to find them, so they stand no chance of making their value. We hear a good deal about New Zealand mutton losing its good name through slaughtering so many of the ewe lambs. Any breeder or stockowner knows that this is sheer nonsense ; the important point is that the male side be kept good. By this time last year we had some 30,000 Aus- ■ tralian lambs arrived, part very well dressed, nice quality and weights ; these met a poor market, caused by the greater part having been sold c.i.f. at ridiculously low prices, in many cases to parties who had rto trade for them, and forced them on the market ; this season there is only one small lot, under a thousand, just discharged." There are still grieri ous complaints about the condition of* | the meat when landed, 1897 having ' been an exceptionally unfortunate year. I Australian mutton suffered most heavily. The fault appears to lie indifferently between the woi'ks and the steamers. Say WisDDEL and Co.: "It might be ■ shown that while sonic of these steamers land their cargoes from certain works in good order, other steamers deliver meat from the same works in unsatisfactory order ; and, further, that while ' meat beai % ing certain brands is almost I always marketed in bright condition, | other brands are almost invariably more • or less defective, no matter by what ; steamer the goods have been carried." Daring the first six months of last ( year 46 Australian cargoes arrived at i London, and 21 of them contained packages of meat which was condemned on arrival. In former years the proportion of imperfect cargoes from Australia was under 10 per cent. ; now it is 45 per cent., and New South Wales is the greatest sufferer. New ; Zealand has suffered in a less but still j important degree from damage, and j the sLeps which have been taken here j hare proved a palliative rather than a J preventive. Ifc is therefore evident that further means must be adopted from the number of defective and !( tender " cargoes which are alleged to still arrive from most of the New Zealand ports.