NOTES ON NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE.
(Feom "Our Own Correspondent. ) Weli :noton, April 14-. By the laet mail Mr H. C. Cameron, inspector of product*, forwarded thiru^h ths Agent-general a report to the Deparicient of Agriculture, from which I make the following extract : — Daring the past fonr weeks five vessels have arrived with produce from New Zealand, and in each case it is my pleasant duty to report that these has been no damage occasioned to the cargo. On all hands it is admitted that the manner in which the New Zealand produce has lately been delivered shows a very marked improvement on that prevailing last year. Unforfcun»tely considerable damage still oicurs to the meat, especially between discharge from the vessel and sale on the market, and although this may be gradually diminishei I am afraid it will be some considerable time before the radical changes necessary for complete prevention of this can be achieved. The following have been received during the month : — Mutton, 127,280 carcases ; lamb, 96,479 carcases ; beef, 2211 quarters ; veal, 23 bodies ; batter, 21,723 boxes ; chesse, 6468 cases. The total number oi lambs received since lsfc January has been 99,3t3 carcases. Duri'ig the same period last year the number received was 58,482. Of course there are no stale lambs held over in store this year to hurt; prices. These have till now been good, but owing to the heavy arrivals to hand, together with a spell of colder weather which has set in, 'quotations are lower, and are now on a level with those ruling at this time last year at Smitt field— New Zealand, 5d to 5£.1 per lb. Ths larger shipm-nts of butler from New Ze*laud this seawu, being of exceptiocally fine quality, have benefited by the shortage of Australian" shipments, and cold weather, though huitful to the lamb trade, has been beneficial to butter, snd prices have risen considerably, and are higher a»d firmer nov? than have been at any tinii: during the season. Cheese, unforlunaWy, is ia poor demand, and buyers will on'y cpprs-ie fot iruinadSate requirements. Sec.aids.rj quality, at a low price, is moat in demand, aud consequently much cbeese is being sacrificed to tffecf. sales. Mr Cameron goes on to make a detailed report ou recent shipments of the Matatua's cargo, which leffc Wellington on Decetaber 24. He says : " The condition o? all tbe produce when delivered ex ship w.\3 gf>ofl, although a few lambs which I saw a few dayis aftsr wards' on SmitidSeld market had a faded aud stele appearance As I noticed nothing pat ashore in that condition,'! am satisfied the damage occurred after being landed. Fortunately, however, there were not many oi them. "Star ef New Zealand (at rived 13th Fe'e-ruarf). — I hays b?e» for acme tims watching tlit- dhebarga of boats of the Tye? Hue to ascerbaiu if possible tbs reason why, as is acknowledged, there is very sel'ifin any complaint; of damage to the meat carried by them, * and claims are so ntra*uil that lower rates of insurance ara charged on their shipments. Oil apj.-i oaehing thess boats the first thing that strikes one is tbe.tl»ss precautions ats> taken for the s&fety of tbe Eeeat curing discharge than are taken on board the Sh(.w-S,svili Cos.psny or the New Zealand Siiippitig Comp&rsj's Hoes. No awnings are used over the hatches or covering over the basges that ate being loaded, *nd the meat is oltv.ii trucked a considerable distance through a shed to the barge. Bat- whea watching the di3obftrge the rapidity witb which the m<sat is lauded b2c-otne3 apparent. The meat is usrca'ly all consigned to one fi-rn — the C.C. snd D. Company (Limited), or ab the most to only two or three, and there is no delay in sorting the marks as is so customary in. tbe other lines, and so'ihe meat is brought oafc 'on a face ' w'.tb comparative little handling. It hfcs not to ba distributed amoupsb so many barges, with the result that a barge is soon filled, and the coldaess or ifc so ros,iEt&.Kie<s, and ib is poon ready for despatch to the up river store This rapidity of s( raightforward handling i", I consider, t-he s?h >le secret of the comparative immunity from damage.' 1 The s.s. Guthic arrived in London on February 16. The butter, with fche exception of 22 brxe^ which bad got damp, was landed in excellent condition, as was also the cheese,' wiih the exception of that which was placed against the pire3 running round the chamber, forming an accumulation of snow, rendering the ca?es nicisi. This should, Mr Cameron think 3 , be guarded »gainst._ He notices that there is stiil this season a very great difference in th@ style of the cheese cases sent Hcme. A few factories send neat well-Buished cases, but some send them very rough, and others large and light. On a bad market, euch as is ruling ab present, every little art is required to help to improve the s(.le of the cheese, and badly finished cases may suggest second quality goods. The small iron hoop found at each end ot the case adopted by some factories is a most useful improvement. The condition of the mutton and lamb when delivered by the Gothic was thoroughly satisfactory. Referring to the fact thai he can seu no reason for a claim for damage in this csse, Mr Cameron says: — "Claims are so universal ia London now, and the slightest excuse is made for a survey, that one is almost forced to believe that many of those interested in handling would be disappointed were no damage occasioned. The interests of the producers in New Zealand and those handling their meat are not so identical as they should be. How to keep complete control of the meat until marketed is for the consideration of the producers. A proposal is being mooted here to form a company to insure the meat from the iime of arrival. Thi3 would be the means of a bstler inspection being maintained over the handling of ihe me'it until marketed. "S s. Delphic (»>j ; ved March 2^ —Some of the iiutter bckes were damaged, hut 'he butter was peirVcS :n concilia*.;. Tbe shiprueur, ef cheese I consider of better quality than the last two cnniing to hand. " S.k. Waikalo (arrived M<-»irch 4) contaiued 28 carcases of veal. I have been iaformed that they have been sent Home frcz;n in the skins. If this is so I am very doubtful of tbe result, as there will be considerable difficulty in fliying them. I shall watch the experiment and repoit next month. The mucton and lamb is being landed in good condition, though some of tho lainba lack condition and finish." Mr Cameron
remarks thab there is often considerable f'isodi* sion in New Zealand regarding bhe retail prices charged for New Zealand lamb and ihs; enormous profits made by retailers'. He encloses advertisements to show that new season's Canterbury lamb is quoted (carriage frea withio 100 miles of London) : Whole or sides 6d per lb, hindquarters 7d, forequarters 6d ; while the wholesale price is 5:1 to s£d in Sinibhfieid.
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Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 2303, 21 April 1898, Page 14
Word Count
1,186NOTES ON NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE. Otago Witness, Issue 2303, 21 April 1898, Page 14
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