THE FROZEN MEAT PROJECT.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1365, 31 March 1881, Page 3

THE FROZEN ME A T PROJECT.

In discussing the probable export trade of the Colony the Otago Witness says :— -The number of sheep in the Colony in 1874, according 1 to the official returns, was 11,674,863, and these had increased in 1878 to 13,069,338, in spite of rabbits. Now that the rabbitt pest has, to a great extent been got under, and we have had two good lambing seasons, it is reasonable to estimate the number of sheep in the Colony at not less than 14,000000. Since 1874. the area of land under cultivation, of all descriptions throughout the Colony, has increased from 1,651,712 acres to no less than 3,982,866 acres; four-fifths of which is in grans pasture and root crops. It is evident, therefore, that the means of feeding has more than kept pace with the natural increase of stock, and that with the stimulus of an export trade we could now fatten off annually a very large number of sheep or cattle. Taking 14,000,000 as the number of sheep in the Colony in 1881, the number of breeding ewes would be 4,660,000, and the number of lambs about 3,600,000 ; but taking the lambs at 3,000,000 annually, the inorease displacing an equal number of old sheep, we have a supply of 3,000,000 sheep fit for the butcher. The calculation as to the quantity required for food within the Colony is the only point which seoms very much in doubt. If we reckoned as high as half-a-pound of mutton daily to each head of the population, including children, in addition to the beef and other flesh products consumed, we should, surely place it high enough. Our present population is about 480,000, and the half-pound a day would bring out 1,752,000 sheep of an average nett weight of 501b each, as the annual consumption of New Zealand. If these figures be anywhere near the truth, take New Zealand all orer we shall be able to spare a million sheep a year for export. This represents i no less than 50,000 tons of space at the low estimate of 20 sheep to the ton of 40 cubic feet. Will our readers endeavour to grasp the idea of what a trade such as this really means ? It would require two steamers a month each carrying 2000 tons, to overtake it, and we question if any steamers afloat cou'ft be so fitted as to carry anything like 2000 tons of meat. But even this leaves out of the calculation beef and butter. That we should have some beef, we think, will be evident, when , we point out, that the number of cattle in New Zealand increased 'from, 494,113 head in 1874, to 578,430 in!B7B,andin all probability, exceeds 660*000 now;* while, in the (production of gutter there is wide scope for x increase if there was'/! only a steady marfcet, aa „ w& :h.*ye* both, the right outfs of cattle and. the moat euperb pasture * , i '• A I <■ ' -' ':