THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6137, 25 March 1898, Page 4

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

A meeting of the Exporters and Produce Sub-committee of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce was held at the offices of the Chamber yesterday afternoon ; present — Messrs E. W. Roper (chairman), A. Kaye, E. G. Staveley, G. Anderson and G. Jameson. Mr J. A. Randall was present by invitation. A letter was read from Mr F. Waymouth apologising for his unavoidable absence, antl expressing his opinion that the formation of the proposed Association would lie of great advantage to the frozen meat trade. The Chairman having explained the object of the meeting, said that it was well within the functions of the Chamber of Commerce to initiate the proposed Association, but that, once started, the new Association must work out its own destiny. The following letter from the Frozen Meat Trade Association of England was then read : — 57, Charterhouse Street, London E.C, Feb. 4, 1898. The President Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch, Kew Zealand. Dear Sir, — I have been instructed to write to you with a view to enlisting' your influential support in taking such steps as you may [consider necessary towards the formation of a Frozen Meat Trade Association in New Zealand. At a meeting of the above Association held on Tuesday last, lst inst, it was unani-, mously agreed that it would be a most desirable thing to have a Frozen Meat Trade Aseociation in New Zealand (to embrace both the North and South Islands), with whom this Association could be in touch, so that any matter affecting the welfare of the trade could be taken up by .the two Associations. As you 'are doubtless aware, there is already in existence in Australia an Association of this nature with which we are now in communication, through Mr R. E. N. Twopeny (the Secretary), and we desire to see an Association formed in New Zealand on similar lines. At the present time we have no one in your colony with whom we can communicate upon any matter affecting the trade, ancl you will, doubtless, agree with me that so large and increasing an industry should not be left in this position. Of course. at this stage we can only ' suggest that steps be taken for the formation of an Association, say, to have its headquarters at Christchurch, the main objects of which would be similar* to those sst out in Rule 2 of our rules, copies of which I have pleasure in forwarding to you' herewith. As soon as this formality had been gone through correspondence could be started between the two Associations. There are one or two matters open at the present time which an Association in New Zealand could be of considerable service in carrying out. In like manner any question which your frozen meat exporters might wish to bring before the notice of the trade here can be submitted to me, and I can assure you it will receive the very best attention and consideration' of the London Association. I enclose list of names of members of this Association. They are practically the whole of the largest frozen meat importers in this country. Trusting to hear favourably from you, — Yours faithfully, G. Nind, secretary. The list of members of the Frozen Meat Trade Association of England, enclosed in the above letter, is as follows : — M. Berge, Blofield and Lisendferi, Bi*yce, Junor and .White (North British ancl Hawke's Bay . Freezing Company, Limited),-'* Colonial Consignment and Distributing Company Limited, W. and R. Fletcher, Limited, Geddes, Burt and Co., M'llwraith, M'Eacharn and Co., National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand, Limited, Jame3 Nelson and Sons, Limited, B. W. Parsons, Pritchard and Moore, River Plate Fre^h Meat Compauy, Limited, Sansineria' a*iftff o*:.'Sha*w, Savill and Albion Company, Limited, Towers and Co., W. Weddel and Co., G. S. Tuill and Co., Limited. After some discussion, during which all present appeared to be strongly ih favour of the formation of the proposed Association, the following resolution was didy proposed and carried unanimously *. " That this committee approves of the principle of the formation of a New Zealand Frozen Meat Trade Association, and will give its support in the furtherance of that object." It was • also decided that copies of the letter from England and of the foregoing resolution should be forwarded to the Chambers of Commerce at Napier, Wellington, Dunedin and Invercargill.

A meeting of those interested in the export frozen meat trade was then held, and after some deliberation the meeting was adjourned until eight o'clock on Monday evening in order that a thoroughly representative attendance might be secured.