A NEW ZEALAND MEAT EXPORT COMPANY.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1324, 23 December 1880, Page 3

A NEW ZEALAND MEAT EXPORT COMPANY.

The sailing of the s.s. Protos from Melbourne, under engagement with the A us * ra^ an Meat Export Company 1 marks, we hope the commencement of a trade in frozen , meat which will at no distant period assume large proportions. To the people of Victoria belongs the credit of taking the first practical step in the new business. It is true that the Strathleven experiment has preceded the present one, but it was undertaken not as a commercial venture but "to demonstrate the possibility of placing Australian frozen meat upon the home markets." It proved that this could be done, and the shipment of some 3000 carcasses of mutton, a few of beef, and 100 tons of butter by the Protos is the practical result. It would not be easy to exaggerate the importance of the enterprise which the Australian Meat Export Company have now inaugurated. As far as the colonies of the great island continent are concerned, it opens up a prospect of the profitable occupation of extensive tracts of country which under present circumstances are lying perfectly waste. It is a mere question of communication and means of transit. But our more immediate concern is about the effect of the trade upon this colony. Are we to be left behind in 4 the race, while our more enterprising v neighbours in Melbourne and Sydney are reaping the reward of prompt action? If growing beef and mutton for export will pay them, it should amply compensate us. Everything is in our favour, the climate, the soil, and the configuration of the country. Our moist and salubrious climate and our fertile soil especially fit us for becoming a great grazing country. Not only are our pastures richer than those of Australia, our farmers can grow any quantity of green crops, and so increase the capacity of the country. It is this view of the case which should especially commend the new industry to those at present engaged in agriculture. It is generally admitted that graingrowing is an industry of such a precarious nature that it is most desirable that some other outlet should be found for the enterprise and capital of our farmers. The successful establishment of meat export would give stability as well as a new impetus to agricultural pursuits. A bad spring or a wet harvest would still have an effect, of course, upon the trade and commerce of the place, but the disaster would be less widespread than is usually the case when a failure arises in the wheat crop. If it paid equally well to grow sheep and cattle less wheat would be cultivated. Even if the production of meat returned only a moderate profit — much less even than would be received during a favorable graingrowing year — the chances are that the man who did not put all his eggs into one oaskefc would come off best in the long run. Apart, then, altogether from the prospect which the frozen meat export industry offers of adding materially to the wealth of the colony, we hope to see it flourish, if it only helps to place our farmers in a more secure position than they at present occupy. But there is every reason to anticipate great things from the new enterprise. As the Argils puts it, speaking of the recent shipment, "it is scarcely any exaggeration to say that the Protos carries national fortunes in her frozen hold." That in using such an expression, the case is not too strongly put, we have but to think of the demand for fresh meat which would speedily spring up were the supply certain. In Great Britain alone there are millions who scarcely know what ifc is to taste good wholesome beef or mutton from one end of the year to the other. If the Strathleven experiment may be taken as a guide, suchfood could belanded in England, and sold at a price' which (^ would speedily bring it within the ' reach of an entirely new set of consumers. Nor would there be any reasonable prospect of an increase in the supply resulting in lowered prices ; it would only extend the area of consumption. Fresh animal food is still to a great extent a luxury to the great majority of the masses in Great Britaiu. The case is quite different as regards wheat. Bread is practically a necessary of life with rich and poor. An abundant wheat harvest over the world means a cheap loaf to the overworked operative ; a partial failure in that crop only raises the price to him, and compels him to use less of it than is absolutely necessary. The case, we say, is different from beef or mutton, [t is not the food of the million, and the price it could be raised at in these colonies and sold at in England would create an immense demand. lßut Great Britain, with her popuation of 35,000,000, is not the only country we have to lode to as a market. There is Germany with her 42,000,000, and France with her 40,000,000 ; besides the other countries of Northern Europe. The practical question for us in New Zealand is, shall we allow the other Australian colonies to estab-

lish the meat export business before iwe enter the field. We think we have furnished reasons why this colony should occupy the foremost place in the enterprise. There is just one difficulty which at first sight may appear to militate against the formation of a company powerful anough to make the undertaking a commercial snecess, and that is the scattered nature of the conntry. It may therefore be said that a Canterbury Company could not carry on at Dunedin or Auckland, while the surplus stock of any of theso districts would not be sufficient to keep the supply up even if the growing of shaep and cattle were greatly extended. We admit at once that it might be unwise to establish companies in each of the provincial districts. A little consideration, however, will satisfy any one who examines into the matter that a colonial company would benefit|rather than suffer by the configuration of the country. If freezing establishments were erected at the principal ports, arrangements might be made with the Union Company to fit up their fine fleet of steamers with refrigerating chambers. Ships could thus be loaded quickly at the most convenient ports and any deficiency in their cargoes quickly made up by steamer. Under such a system there need be no ' occasion to drive stock any great distance before being slaughtered ; for there are few parts of New Zealand at any great distance from a port or railway station. In this respect, apart from other advantages, our graziers and farmers would be in a much more advantageous position than our Australian rivals. , Our beef and mutton could not only be grown under more favourable conditions, but would be much better fitted to stand the voyage than that brought long distances from the interior of Australia. It is not for us to say what practical steps should be taken to form a company for New Zealand. But it seems to us that the present is a most favorable opportunity for entering upon such an enterprise. If the business were once successfully inaugurated frozen meat would, we are convinced, at no distant day occupy a prominent place in the list of our exports. — .Witness.