THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7917, 11 August 1917, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

We have before us the twelfth annual review of the Australian frozen meat trade, for the season 1916-17, as published by the Pastoral Review Proprietary. Bring a review of the trade under war conditions, it follows that In regard to essential matters the experiences of the Australian producers have been much the same ns those of the producers in this Dominion. It is, howover, interesting to note some of the facts set out in the review, which is prefaced by the statement that “the past twelve months cover a period of quiet progress, the output from Australian works being relatively much larger than during the immediately preceding season.” In Australia, as here, as time goes on more and more industries are being brought under Government control. In this respect bye-products of the frozen meat export trade have not. escaped. As was the case in 1915-16, all meat consigned to Great Britain was bought by the Imperial authorities f.o.b. Boneless and bull beef, which had previously been exported and sold on owners’ account, was taken over by the Board of Trade as from 15th March, 1917. In November all wool was acquired by the Federal Government on behalf of the Home Government. Later, in May, regulations were issued controlling tho price of leather, which necessarily affected hides. Also an effort was made to fix the price of tallow, but it was found impracticable and was abandoned, although it is understood th.o Imperial Government is exercising some control in the United Kingdom. A comparative table shows that the actual increase in mutton exports was 362,361 carcases, as compared with 1915-16, which is equal to 63 per cent. The lamb increase was 160,525, or 38 per cent., and beef 693,919 quarters or crops, say 74 per cent. Queensland, with her predominance in beef, was by far the largest exporter. The increase in mutton shipments from that State, as compared with the preceding year’s output, was equal to 64 per cent., and beef to 66 per cent. New South Wales mutton clearances show an increase of 44 per cent., but it will bo noted that lamb fell off to the extent of 158,173 carcases (43 per cent.). The exports from Victoria during the 1915-16 season were so insignificant that they can hardly be compared on a percentage basis with last year’s figures, small as they are. The same remark applies to New South Wales beef,shipments. In all, 98.3 per cent, of the total mutton, 98.6 per cent, of the iamb, and 99.1 per cent, of the beef output was despatched to the United Kingdom. Tho corresponding percentages for 1915-16 were mutton 96.4, lamb 97.5, and beef 96.3, so the proportion of the total output consigned to Great Britain was larger than usual. The review mentions that the Imperial authorities have just decided to assume control over all meat in cool stores in tho Commonwealth. It is not known definitely if this will affect shipments to out ports, but it is thought more than probable that limited consignments will be allowed to continue to the East. The trade in Australia has viewed with considerable uneasiness the unrestricted sale in England of meat of foreign origin. It is feared that the concerns operating in other countries, especially in South America, are thus obtaining an advantage that will be used to tho detriment of Australasian companies when trade conditions again become normal. There can be no doubt that the firms comprising the American Meat Trust have been enabled to accumulate Jugo profits during the war, largely through tho action of the Board ol Trade in restricting the sale of mca* ;rom this side. Not only that, foreign meat ha-5 practically had the Continental field to itself, and largo shipments have been made tor-Frauce, Italy, etc., on terms that are bound to be highly satisfactory to the suppliers both now and later. Under the circumstances it is hardly to be wondered at that the future is viewed with a measure of concern. The matter must be ventilated, and it is to be hoped that the home and local Governments will shortly give tec genuinely Australian and British companies operating in the Dominion adequate guarantees that their interests will Le preserved. They have made many sacrifices on behalf of the Empire, and it would bo a national disaster to allow them to become absorbed or driven out cf business by foreigners. In a “Memorandum on the Imported Meat Trade,” issued by W. Weddel and Co., Limited, it is suggested, amongst other things, that the Home Government should guarantee Dominion .suppliers of frozen and chilled meat minimum prices for a series of years. Also that, if possible, army contracts bo given them up to their full capacity. Those are both excellent suggestions, and should be easy to carry out without doing violence to the ideal of British failplay, or giving our latest Ally cause for complaint. As to the future, it is pointed out that tho freight position and conditions of trade generally are so uncertain that it would be vain to attempt to do more than generalise as to what may happen during tho next 12 months. The Imperial Government loom on frozen beef and mutton as two prime food essentials, and it may therefore be assumed that refrigerated space will be reserved for these lines up to the limit of the capacity available. It L pointed out, however, that, from a purely Australian point of view it would perhaps bo just as well that shipments of frozen meat should not be heavy during the next twelve months. As mentioned earlier in this review, the country is understocked. A small export would enable graziers to make up the greater part of this deficiency, and so build up flocks for future years.