The Frozen Meat Trade.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1771, 14 December 1885, Page 3

The Frozen Meat Trade.

To the Editor of the Standard. Sib, —I beg to band you for publication tn enclosed letter I have just received from a London agent of very large experience in the Frozen Meat Trade and who has also hid the advantage of recently visiting the Australian Colonies and New Zealand. I am, &c., W. C. Buchanan. Tupnrapuru, Dec 9. London, October 23, 1885. With reference to present low range of prices, they are entirely brought about by excessive supplies, and want of proper organisation. We take a look at supplies, taking Home supplies first. Since 1882, the stock in the country Las been gradually increasing. Hitherto the herd and stock maximum had been attained in 1874. The number of cattle fell in 1882 5 per cent, and sheep were reduced 19 per cent, but in the last 3years the increase has been very considerable. According to the last census taken in June, the cattle returns are 6,597,834 head or 472,363 above 1874, when the stock was at its maximum. Sheep, which decreased 19 per cent between 1874 and 18S2, have increased from 24,319,168 in 1882 to 26,534,635 in the present year. To sum up, cattle in the last three years have increased in number no less than 13 per cent and sheep 9 ;er cent, or to put it in another form, the increase in home fed mutton orrathermeat, has added to the total sapply m 1885 as much meat at the whole of the imported animals bring in. Now, as regards foreign live stock. The figures are as under : 1383 1884 1885 (9 months) Cottle 325,000 301,000 268,000 Bheep 886,000 750,000 577,000 which show a falling off, but on the other hand the imports of meat in various forms has much increased.

1883 1884 1885 (9 motbs) Beef 776,000 804,000 864,000 Othermeats 401,000 350,000 406,000 Motion 135,000 363,000 445,000 The imports of pork and bacon have also increased considerably. Ton will notice that the imports of frozen mutton have increased in the 9 months enormously, the figures in carcases being 1884 486,000 for 9 months, 1885, 593,000 for 9 months. The monthly imports on an average being 54,000 and 65,000 carcases respectively. The imports from the different places are as under (9 months to end of September.) Australia New Zealand E. Plate 1884 92.000 313,000 81.000 ► 1885 76,000 365,000 151,000 shewing an increase of about 17 percent from New Zealand, and nearly 90 per cent from the Plate. Onr stock of frozen mutton now in London is close upon 100,000 carcases. Jly impression is that imports of frozen mutton are more likely to increase than fall off, as fresh companies are opening at the Plate, and in New Zealand the sheep are there and must be shipped, and farmers must continue to breed them, as being more profitable or less ininous, than growing wheat. With the foregoing figures, vou will not be astonished that prices have fallen to their present level, but at the same time I quite admit that the commercial depression has bad something to do in bringing prices down, and that so far as the frozen mutton is conearned better organisation wou'd considerably improve matters, both as regards the market price, and reduction in charges.