FROZEN MEAT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5504, 3 March 1896, Page 2

FROZEN MEAT.

INTEEVIEW WITH ME W. WEDDEL. Mr W. Weddel, one of the principals of the firm of Messrs Weddel and Co., colonial produce agents, of London, is now on a visit to Christchurch, and yesterday he gave a representative of this journal some interesting information on matters connected with the sale and distribution of frozen meat in Great Britain. ■EXTENSION OF THE TEADE. Speaking with regard to the movement to open up markets ' for New Zealand mutton in the English provinces, Mr Weddel advised the exercise of considerable caution in consigning large cargoes to other parts than London, as in many of the outside districts, such as Cardiff and Liverpool, the; great bulk of the demand was for the lighter weight and cheaper merino mutton, in preference to the heavier cross-breds grown here. His firm had sold several small cargoes of New Zealand mutton for the Liverpool market, but they scarcely caited to risk sending large cargoes of this class to that important centre unless the meat was actually under purchase. Some years ago Messrs Weddel and Co. had considerable quantities of New Zealand mutton in cold storage at Cardiff, and they made every effort to quit it, but the demand in the district for that class of mutton was so small that eventually the great bulk of it had to be moved elsewhere. A few months ago another firm sent 10,000 New Zealand frozen Bheep to Manchester in the hope of selling them there, but they were met with a similar difficulty. They were unable to move off any quantity, and were obliged to incur the expense of returning the major portion to London for sale. At the time when his firm had succeeded in negotiating the sale of a cargo of Victorian mutton ex the sailing ship Timaru, to Manchester direct, they had a similar-sized cargo of South Canterbury mutton consigned to them by the sailing ship Opawa, which came to a port of call for orders ; and at the urgent request of the shippers, who were mo3t anxious to sell at Manchester, thoy endeavoured to dispose of the meat there. However, the demand for that class of mutton was so small that, although they communicated with all the likely buyers in that district, they succeeded in getting orders for only some 2500 carcases, and were, therefore, reluctantly obliged to order the vessel to London. His firm were constantly on the alert for new outlets for frozen meat and dairy produce, and lost no opportunity of testing all such likely markets ; but from the instances he had given it would be seen that it was dangerous to unduly force these outlets by sending large quantities to other ports than London without flrs.t having them sold. By much the safest plan would be to ship to London and endeavour to make arrangements with ship-owners to land portions of the cargoes at other ports at extra freights which might be agreed on, should sufficient inducement offer in any particular districts. That was the policy adopted by the Eiver Plate shippers, but they had the great advantage of having the complete control of all shipments from that part, as practically the disposal of the whole of the meat sent from the Argentine wa? in the hands of three companies, viz., the Sansinena Company, the Eiver ' Plate Prgsh Meat Company, and Messrs James Nelson and Sons, Limited. These three companies bought the meat from • the growers, and thereafter .were at liberty to . discharge at ahy. port they might think best, by arrangement with the ship-owners. They were thus able to nurse the markets, and if they thought it advisable could carry on business for a time in any new markets, even at a loss, if they could discern a prospect of profit later on. The Eiver Plate people had also the further material advantage of having the whole of their consignments concentrated in their hands, and they thus avoided the competition that from time to time took place amongst the consignees of New Zealand mutton, to the great detriment of the shippers. The continental outlet for frozen mutton was not likely to be of any consequence at present, especially as far as New Zealand was concerned. The consumption of mutton in Germany was very small, and preference was given there to the lighter and cheaper merino sorts. In France, where a fair .amount of mutton was used, the landed proprietors had so much influence that they had succeeded in imposing, even at present, almost prohibitive restrictions upon the importation of frozen meat. All sheep impox'ted in a frozen condition were required to have the lungs left attached to the carcase for medical examination, and, after undergoing that ordeal, the carcase was immediately sawn into quarters, thus making it impossible to hang the sheep up for display in butchers' shops. Furthermore, the import and octroi duties amounted in all to about 2d per lb, which made an additional heavy handicap on the trade. He, however, did. not despair of eventually succeeding in opening up a trade on the Continent, as when the industrial classes there engaged in factories, &c, became more powerful political factors they would insist upon being supplied with cheap and wholesome meat on the same terms as those upon which colonial mutton and beef were admitted into Great Britain. During the latter part of 1895 Messrs Weddel and Co. had sent several shipments of Australian beef and mutton to Mediterranean ports, such as Port Said, Malta and Gibraltar, and the reports upon these consignments had been quite satisfactory. The native supplies of beef and mutton there were of decidedly poor quality, and he was sanguine that the consumption of frozen meat would continue to steadily increase. Mr Weddel pointed out that, considering the comparatively Bhort period that had elapsed since the initiation of the frozen meat trade — only some twelve years — it. was marvellous how rapidly the industry had developed. This would be more easily appreciated when hef stated that of 'the mutton consumed in the United Kingdom nearly 30 per cent was now imported ma frozen state. Considering the strong prejudice which undoubtedly had existed against this article — and which even now had not been entirely dissipated — he thought that the record was indeed a startling one. QUALITY OF THE MEAT. In speaking of the quality of the meat Mr Weddel said he would most earnestly urge upon Canterbury shippers the absolute necessity of maintaining a high standard in the mutton sent Home. Towards the latter part of last year several lots of Canterbury mutton were received in London which were not prime. The sending of such carcases was a very shortsighted policy on the part of growers here, more especially so in view of the increasingly keen competition from Australia and the Eiver Plate. FRAUDULENT TRADERS. With regard to the statement that Eiver Plate sheep were being sold as New Zealand mutton, Mr Weddel said that there was no doubt that such did actually occur. Shortly before he left England he saw a shop in a leading watering place in Lancashire, the proprietors of which were trading under the title of the "Canterbury Meat Company," whereas nearly the whole of themeat exposed for sale was undoubtedly of Eiver Plate origin. It was, of course, ratKer a nice question whether the proprietors of such a shop were entitled legally to mako such use of the name " Canterbury," and he was afraid it might be difficult to bring an action in this respect within the law. However, he had at once brought the whole of the circumstances under the notice of the AgentGeneral (Sir Westby Perceval), and that gentleman had promised to look into the matter, and if possible take means to bring such unfair dealers to book.