THE FROZEN MEAT INDUSTRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2770, 9 August 1883, Page 3

THE FROZEN MEAT INDUSTRY.

The following letter, wbioh contains some very interesting information on the above subject appeared m yesterday's Otago Daily Times : — OCB SVUPLVB BHBBP. To tbe Editor. Sib, — Tho question of th« quantity of sheep wo can produce suitable for exportation is one whioh is occupying a considerable amount of attention at the present time, and having given tho mutter some consideration,! purpose laying a fen figures before you, which, if they serve no other purpose, may bo the means of provaUng discussion and getting tho views of others, on a eubjeot of much importance to New Z island t and as I can speak with most confidence of the stock of the South Island, I shall conftno theso notes principally to it. Taking the census return of 1881 as a basis (1882 not being within reach) tho whole stock of New Zealand, excluding the Chatham Islands, is 12,923,000 sheep (including lambi-) , 4.920,000 of which are stated to bs breeding owes. The South Island claims 8,868,000, 3,268,000 of which are breeding ewes, and about two-thirds may bo taken as merinos, the other third being croesbreds and longwools. Tho present population of the South Island may be estimated at 310,000, and I calculate that tho average consumption of sheep as food is about two and a half sheep per head of population. The increase of sheep I estimato nt VO por cent on the breeding ewei, and tbe death rate at 6 per cent all round. Taking these figures, we have an increase of 2,287,600 lambs, from which we have to deduct 533,080 for deaths and 776,000 for homo consumption, leaving 980,520 of a surplus for exportation and stocking up land that may be improved by cultivation. Tho largest proportion of this surplus would bs merinos and ewes unfit for exportation ; and to arrive at a closer estimate of sheep really suited for the Homo markot we will now see what overplus we may expect m crosßbreds and longwools. Having an intimate knowledge of the sheep stock of Otigo and after examining tho last statistics suppliod by Government, I estimate the proportion of crossbreds to bo slightly ovor ono-third of the wholo ; but I imagine the proportion is less m Canterbury, Nelson and Marlborough, and will therefore assume 3,000,000 as tho basis of my figures. Longwooli and crossbreds being mostly kept on low country and English grass, yield a larger crop of lambs than merinos, and 80 per cent may be taken as the average lambing. Tho death-rate will not etand altering. Tho proportion of breeding ewes, however, will be greater than with merinos, as wethers lire sold younger, and ewes are put to the ram when two tooth instead of fourtooth, as a rule. I think that 1,250,000 breeding ewes will be about tbe number, and 60 per cent on that gives an increase of ono million, from which deduct 180,000 for deaths and wo have a balance of 820,000, half owrsand half wethers. As ewes are not desirable for export unless killed when maidens, wo have to confine oureelves to tho wethers — aay 410,000— and before arriving at tho actual surplus we may rockon on having for freezing, an allowance requires to bo made for consumption on the spot, as ft certain proportion will of a surety find their way into the hands of the butchers— say about onef, third. This leaves 250,000 crossbred wethers s» available for exportation^, and if we add say 60,000 forjsuperior merino wethers and crossit bred maiden ewei, we have a total of 300,000, m wtaioh I think is the utmost we oan supply el under tbe present system of breeding.

Let us now look at the question of freezin'-plant and freight. The Dunedin and Christchurch works are now being enlarged, and will shortly be capable of freezing 400 sheep per day each, or say a cargo of 8500 a month each, or a total of 200,000 per annum, to be carried by steamers, which leavci 100,000 for sailing ships which freeze on board. The Now Zealand Shipping Company now send a Bteamer a moDth, and as the Shaw Savill and Albion Company also slart a lino nf Etentners m November, there will bo sufficient tonnage to keep the two establishments m full operation, provided we can recuro tboeo two lioei for the South Island, but it. is not unlikely that Wellington will obUin a share, m which case we may be short of tonnage. The B.S. and A. Company are mating up the number of their lailing ships, with refrigerators, to eight, and other four may be reckoned on from the New Zealand Shipping Company and others, making Bay, 12 Bailing ehipa coming to New Zsaland, and if they occupy about 10 months for the round (rip they would tftko 14 cargoes a year; but as some of Ilia Bhips will go to tho North Island ports we will only reckon on 10 cargoes a year from tho South Island, taking 80,000 Bheep, or just about completing the quantity wo have for export.

If these Cgurpß are reliable, it is evident that wo hare Buffioifnt freezing power to work off our surplus etock and fully supply all the refrigerating tonnage that is likely to te available for Borne time to come. I undentani that the Invercargill people havo ordered plant, but I am at a loss to see how I hey expect to keep it employed, and I am strongly of opinion that for tho preeent wo should re9t on our oars for a year or two, until it ia seen what the result of the operations now going on will be. The trade U quite m its infancy, and every caution should be exercised not to damage it by its being ovcrdonp. Trusting that others will favor you with their viewp, I am, &c, THO3 BrydON'E, Dunedin, AugUßt 7(h.