THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2541, 26 November 1902, Page 11

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

In his Port Chalmers speech the Premier made a proposal in connection with the frozen meat trade that should find a ready response amongst New Zealand producers. We have repeatedly expressed the opinion that some satisfactory means of distribution at the consuming end is essential to the continued success of the frozen meat trade, end can, therefore, heartily endorse Mr Seddon's proposal to erect Government distributing stores at the principal consuming centres. In the past, exporters of New Zealand meat have concentrated supplies in London, and in consequence the trade has suffered to an extent that can hardly be estimated. At first that arrangement worked fairly well, but now the pressure of the Argentine, which has taken means to tap other centres than London, compels this colony to make a new departure. We find that -n-Jiile in 1901 New Zealand sent 3,234,119 carcases of mutton and lamb to London, the Argentine sent only 342,525 larcases to that centre. During the same period, however, it sent •1,952,625 carcases to Liverpool and 388,995 to other centres. Since the inauguration of the frozen meat trade the Argentine has sent close upon 20 million carcases of mutton to Liverpool, but New Zealand has rested satisfied .with concentrating her export in London, distributing thence to a small extent by rail. Argentine exporters are thoroughly alert, and unless we look to our laurels we may find ourselves placed at a disadvantage with regard to the (principal English markets by a formidable rival. What Mr Seddon proposes is that the Government should set up in the large centres meat emporiums under Government control for the distribution of New Zealand meat. "When an England recently he went into this question with the Agent-general, who .thought these meat emporiums might be anade self-supporting; but, as the Premier pointed out, even if at firct the project cost a few thousands the money iirould be well spent. It is almost superfluous at this time of day to sound tne praises of New Zealand beef and mutton, for their splendid quality is jirell established. Yet English consumers are not likely to go to any unnecessary trouble to procure New Zea-

laud niea., when the Argentine article, even if somewhat inferior — although it is steadily rising to the level of our meat — is easily procurable. The device of Government meat emporiums would only be a temporary ai'rangement, and, after they had serve-d the purpose of thoroughly introducing our product to the English consumers, they could be disposed of to the local butchers. By means of these emporiums Mr Seddon hopes to be able to introduce New Zealand meat to every large city in the United Kingdom within a period of three years. No more favourable opportunity than at the present time is hfcely to occur for the inauguration of the system Mr Seddon suggests, for while the Commonwealth export has practically ceased on account of the drought a splendid opening is afforded to push our meat trade. Unless something in the nature of Mr Seddon's proposal is carried into effect very soon New Zealand producers will find themselves in the position of being gradually squeezed out of the principal markets by the Argentine, which is more favourably situated for reaching these markets. During the past ten years Argentine exportation of frozen mutton to English markets has more than doubled. In 1891 the number of carcases was slightly over a million, while last year the volume swelled to 2,034,000} At the present rate of development it will not be long before New Zealand has to take second place with reference to the Argentine in the matter of frozen, meat export. Regulation no less than distribution is essential to the success of the frozen meat trade, and with a wider basis of distribution regulation would be much easier than under existing conditions. This is a matter that receives far more careful attention on the part of American and Argentine producers than in the case of New Zealand. Our producers depend far too much upon the exigencies of the season, and the volume of stock fattened when there is a flush of grass is too greatly in excess of the number fattened when grass is scarce. From that circumstance the bulk of the fattening is done during the summer months, which is, of course, the proper season, but to freeze the mutton and send it off across the sea as quickly as it can be fattened is not a wise policy.

Ampler storage at both the producing and the distributing end would obviate the necessity for sending forward irregular shipments of frozen meat. "With regard to the United States and the Argentine, Mr Seddon pointed out that these countries had representatives in the United Kingdom who regulated the supplies. " With them," he said, " there was no ebb and flow. The amount required for the market was sent there, and the dealers in the Mother Country had to pay the price asked." With regard to New Zealand, however, a different practice is pursued. The whole output is put in the hands of middlemen, who place it upon the market as soon as it arrives, often at a great disadvantage to the producer. There was a time when we had matters pretty well all our own way in the frozen meat trade, when haphazard methods might have done ; but with alert rivals in tEe field it is not rwise to play fast and loose vfitb. an important commercial enterprise. Undoubtedly further provision for cold storage iv London and other places ought to be made in order to admit of proper regulation of the supplies as the^e come to hand. With adequate cold storage and distributing emporiums, a« suggested by Mr &eddon, the New Zealand meat trade would be able to holcl its own against all rivals.