THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE. BAD MANAGEMENT AT HOME.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3217, 22 March 1900, Page 2

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE. BAD MANAGEMENT AT HOME.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 21. Mr Cameron, Home representative of New Zealand produce, writing from London on February 9th, says that he was disappointed with the condition of the hew Zealand meat trade m Scotland, which is not increasing since his report 18 months ago, while the trade m River Plate mutton is increasing enormously. He found that no effort was being made to push the sale of New Zealand meat there. He regrets that his previous representations m advocating the opening up]of this important market has not received the attention from New Zealand producers that it should have. In this connection he says :— " If the New Zealand meat trade is allowed to drift as it has been doing for co long, and if what ought to be everybody's business is nobody's business, I dread that it will become more and more unsatisfactory as years go by. As to the London market for mutton and lamb, it continues depressed, but for beef there is a good demand at fair prices. In order to prevent buyers going on to New Zealand mutton, Kiver Plate holders have occasionally given way l-8d per lb when they thought it necessary. As to lambs the heavy arrivals from Australia, together with those from New Zealand held m store from last season, depressed the market. There has been veiy little damaged meat received for some time, and the Tekoa's cargo despite her long detention owing to the accident at Staten Island, arrived m fine condition." He concludes : " Although the stores m London are so full that it is difficult to obtain space for meat that is now arriving, and the discharge of vessels is therefore greatly retarded, there are many cold air stores through" out the country with ample accommodation for all requirements if they were utilised. The agents here are averse to storing m these chambers, as they say there is no demand for New Zealand meat m the localities m which they are situated, and so they could not afford to pay railage from the vessel to them. I feel, however, that while this is done, if advantage were taken by the agents of these stores, that m all probability the fact of men being on the spot there might be the means of the demand they say is wanting being brought about. Of course, this point brings up again the question of distribution, to w"hich I have so of ten referred, and 8s I hpve repeatedly said, agents are not sufficiently interested m the welfare of New Zealand meat to go beyond the limits of their present business arrangements for the purpose of attempting improved distribution."