The Frozen Meat Trade.

Southland Times, Issue 19724, 26 January 1906, Page 4

The Frozen Meat Trade.

* . LIGHT WEIGHTS AND GOOD quality essential. INTERVIEW with mb hj. f. 1 RBEOB. Mr if F. Reece, who went Home two years ago in the Interests ol tho British New Zealand Meat and Produce Co., is on a brief visit to Christchurch. Ho returned by the Orient l:ne, via Australia, rind came across in tho Maheoo, which Impressed him as a highly creditable and up-to-date passenger boat. His stay will only last about three weeks, as ho wishes to bo back in London about the first ol April for the opening ot the lamb season. To a Press reporter Mr Reece kindly gave some information regarding the present state of the frozen meat trade at Home. Mr Roeco first of all explained that one of the principal features in connection with tho operations o£ his company was the uso of the Smethurst patent defrosting machine, which is in tho form of a revolving wheel, upon which tho frozen carcases are hung. U was thoroughly tested in various ways, and it did its work very well, but it was found that the British people did not want their meat defrosted, and would certaiuiy not pay any more for it in that state. Iho machine, therefore not being able to Produce any income, the company were compelled to relinquish the use ol it. The company have three retail shops of their own running in the suburbs of London, where they are selling New Zealand meat, and are working very satisfactorily. Iho original (intention of the company was to go in for opening retail shops, but it was found that this was a very difficult task indeed, and the result doubtful, and they had therefore decided at tho present not to increase the number. They wore now devoting their energies to consignments mul the disposing of the meat to large institutions such as the War Office, nsylmns, workhouses, etc., which had been found to he more satisfactory, ami some large contracts had been sccuied. The arrangements they bad made were also giving satisfaction to purchasers, as there was an absolute guarantee that they were getting nothing but genuine Now Zealand meat. The number of consignments going through the company s hands would this year be larger than ever, and he was confident in saying that so far they had justified the existence of the company. It was a difficult matter to establish a company of the kind in Loudon ; everything was against them, especially the price of meat in the colony, so that very few consignments went to London, and the profits of retailing it were almost nil. The contracts they had entered into usually ran quarterly or half-yearly, and no advantage could betaken of u period of high prices to secure- lengthy contracts. Asked us to whether there was .still any prejudice against frozen moat, Mr Reece replied that customers of shops in any good suburb where they sold English meat positively refused to take frozen moat. Although they heard that the prejudice against frozen meat was very much broken down, ami no doubt it had been overcome to a great extent, there still existed a good deal of feeling against it. and it was fostered by retailers of English meat, in which there was more profit, and it was not so difficult to handle, as frozen moat loses its colour, 'there was no doubt, however, .that the frozen meat trade was a growing one, and Iho prejudice against it was slowly

|,ut surely being broken down. »>ur lamb trade was an established thing. and would go on increasing, for everyone who gave it a trial was so thoroughly satisfied with it that they continued its use, “ Have the imports of lamb from Australia affected our position at Homo to any extent?" -• There is no doubt.,” replied Mr UoeCo, “ that Australian lamb has affected our prices, and they have so improved the ipmlity that now some of the Victorian lambs are nearly as good as New Zealand.” Continuing, Air Hoeco said it was a mistake to send shipments of New Zealand lamb 100 early in the season. The lamb season does not open in London with any life or vigour before April. Another thing was that they must not send Home over-fat moat, as was done last year. The reputation of both Canterbury mutton and lamb was much affected last season through their sheep being over-fat and wasteful, and the best North Island brands were {etching more than the best Canterbury brands. The popular lamb on the London market was from 301b to 381b, and it was of vital importance that tlio Cantenbury farmers should regulate the weights of their lambs better than they hfcve been doing. If they continued to send their lambs Home as tegs, they would cease to top the London market. Anything over 40lb was not considered a lamb, and was difficult to soil at lamb prices.

In regard to Argentine competition, they were always improving the quality of their mutton, and they were now sending .smaller and more useful sheep than they used to do. The whole countny Was now pretty well covered so far as the distribution of meat was concerned, and I here wns not much more to bo done in (hat respect. No doubt if tho direct service were made quicker and more regular it would facilitate the sale of our, meal in the 'Vest of England and the Midlands.' Those who required regular supplies had to obtain them from Lond6n, and that added to tho cost, and so assisted the Argentine trade. Consignments from the Argentine went direct to Liverpool to supply the large manufacturing districts. In reply to a question as to what prospects there were of frozen meat being admitted into Continental countries, Mr Reece said that no one in London could tell him that there was the slightest hope of getting meat Into Germany or other Continental countries, though a good deal of home-killed was sent over from England ; but the conditions were so stringent and tho cost so great that there was not much profit in it, and it could only be done when prices on tho Continent were abnormally high. In franco it was required that certain internal organs should be left in the carouse for the purpose of inspection, and that could not, bo done with frozen meat,

“ "hat are the prospects of the trade for the coming year ?” " The fact that Australia will make largo shipments of frozen mutton this year," readied Mr Recce, " will be a factor in regulating the prices, and that makes it more important that New Zealand fanners should watch more closely he quality of their meat. Everything depends upon that.” A lot of good halfbred mutton, ho continued, was now going from Australia, and it would not therefore bo all merino. Tho frozen meat trade at pnesont was very bad indeed, but it was always so at Christmas-time, when Home-grown meat, poultry r.r.d game were largely in demand The outlook was nil right, but prices were not going to be so high os they were last year, when- when they were abnormally so. Whether supplies were lango or small, prices had a limit, and when they went beyond that something else took its place. When large supplies of Argentine beef came in they affected tho prices of mutton, ns the English were large beef-eat-ers, consuming thnee times os much beef ns mutton. Questioned regarding the dairy produce trade, Mr Reece said there was a gneat deal of dissatisfaction with the way our butter was being retailed at Home. The fact of Its being so hard and dny and good rendered It easy of manipulation and adulteration, which there was no doubt was largely done. There was a great deal of truth in the reports concerning the manipulation. He had tried time after time to purchase New .Zealand butter in the large retail establishments, and could not do it- They sold their Is, Is 2d, or In 4d button, as the case might be, but if New Zealand butter were asked for one would be told they did not keep it. There were various Acts dealing with the adulteration of butter and other food products, and though there had been some prosecutions It was difficult to prove adulteration. Neither could New Zealand cheese bo bought in the leading retail shops, only English Cheddar and Canadian. It was a question, therefore, what Now Zealand clisese was sold as.