THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume 27, Issue 950, 27 June 1883, Page 3

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

At the meeting of the Australian Frozen Meat Company in Melbourne, Sir James M'Culloch (Chairman), after referring to the unfortunate fact that the Company could pay no dividend, went on to say : " The directors had confidence in the principle, which, he believed, would yet be a thorough success. What new industries had ever* been established that had not at the outset to encounter great difficulties 1 ., Was tke the, undertaking of the Company worth' maintaining? As to an putlet for surplus stocky the question arose whether the yearly increase of stock could be consumed in the country. There were in Victoria 10,000,000 sheep ; in New South Wales,' 32,000,000 ; in South Australia, 6,000,000 ; and in Queensland, 7,000,000'; — in p all, 55,000,000 sheep. But the .population of these Colonies only numbered about 2,000,000. The local population could not consume the increase of , all that stock. For some time the people had, been stocking up Queensland, but that work was being rapidly done, and in a. very short time the question of the disposal of the surplus stook must become more urgent than ever. Communities that owned 55,000,000 sheep besides cattle, mast look to the future. What cost would' the maintenance of meat-exporting establishments entail on the stock interest' ? If the stockowners of the four Colonies he had named were to contribute Id per 'sheep to such a purpose, the total sum would be £229,000. Was it not worth .the while of those so deeply interested in the matter to consider whether it would not be well to have laid aside that amount in order to carry off stock 1 If the owners of the 10,000,000 sheep in Victoria contributed Id per head, the amount; would be £41,000— a sum that would be more; than sufficient to carry on this . Company very successfully. Were they willing to lay out that small sum of money 1 Even if they lost, the £41,000 directly, they would indirectly be more than repaid. through the increased price they would get for their stock. When in England he ascertained that any quantity of meat that could be sent would be taken up, provided it was sound, and a good price would be paid for it too."