THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1797, 12 January 1884, Page 3

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

In Tuesday's issue we printed two important letter on this subject. The following article on the subject is from the Otago Witness :— The lctteis on this subject from Mr John Reid, of Eldeislie, and Messrs Henry Hicks and Son, conflicting though they be, will piolubly excite exaggerated fears in the minds of stockowners, and impart the unpiession that there is, comparatively speaking, in view of the resources of the AuMualian Colonies, a very limited market indeed for our possible meat production— a market too surrounded by obstacles to the fair disposal of the poods, and there fore requiring unusual moasuies and precautions on behalf of the \endois. In one particular there is agi cement between the writers. Their remaiks aie exclusively confined to the discussion of the London market's, only as an outlet for the surplus meat of the Colonies, but theie is a marked divergence of opinion as to the best means of effecting sales. Mr Reid is strongly against divided agency, and gives his reason for his conclusions, while Henry Hicks and Son offer vei-y cogent arguments why consignments would be more profitably handled tor the producer weic they dispersed among various meat salesmen. Many would possibly agree in opinion with Mr Reid that in a new an»l limited trade in so perishable au article as meat, with insufficient means of holding stock over and strong pi ejudices fostemlby wealthy interests to combat — one influential agency could better fight the battle than were numerous agents employed, whose remuneration would hardly induce them to push the business energe tic.il ly. But it may now be contended that New Zealand meat has gained an a&snied position, the London market salesmen recognise it to be a "brilliant success," the trade is capable of an immense development, and therefore that this will be better furthered by letting the benefits fiom commissions be impartially divided, or as the individual shipper may elect. If, \ however, the Messrs Hicks estimate ot ) the capacity of the great metropolitan market be correct, and it be limited to 2000 carcases of mutton per week, the arguments for au undivided agency will have much greater force, especially if there be no prospect of a considerable and rapid expansion in the consumption of an admittedly superior article. But are there not good grounds for the belief that in London itself the demand will I'apidly increase, or why are the butcher's in such numbers, fitting up cold stores on their premises, and the i ail way companies building refrigerating cars? The contention that an excess o\ pr 2000 carcases of mutton a week among a population of five millions would, foi the next year or two, cause a glut, is obviously absurd, when it is consideied that by February next— only two years from the time the trade was first attempted, the New Zealand shipments will ha\e about made that average. We have been "wisely schooled to send only specially fine mutton. Very little of this has yet reached the mass of middle class people, who almost invanably pin chase supeiior fresh meat, or wanting that, buy other varieties of pi ovisions. but when this laige majority of meat eonsuineis become familiirized with the quality and appearance of fio7eu mutton, and learn that the discolomation, following the thawing to which the Messrs liicks allude, does not arise from deteuoiation or decay, can it be supposed that piejudice will continue to sway them ? Ceitainly not in view of the progress made hitheito, and New Zealand will deservedly monopolize the larger benefit, because our shipments have been prominently superior Fruikly. we are not disposed to regard tins master of appearance after thawing as presenbiny a diSeience in \alue from the Homt-fed mutton. Intrinsically it is a better article, and that consumeis will soon find out, nor do the appeal anees after thawing make it look moie unsightly than the meat in a London butcher's bhop after a couple of days' exposiue. Why, e\eiy housekeeper with any pretence to a knowledge of table comforts makes it a practice to keep the family meit until it is tender and discolouted. When it is universally known how cleanly our slaughtering opeiations are peitoimed, that the carcasses aie enveloped in calico, and that by no possibility can the meat in any after handling be soiled, or affected in any way, the general veidict must be in favour of the frozen article as regards cleanliness, compared with the familiar details of the ordinary butcher's business within their knowledge. Then discolouration will not deter customers. In regard to quality there can be no comparison ; oil and cotton cake fed and forced mutton is absolutely inferior to that we send, and we are entitled to claim tor ours a supeiior grading, as most assuredly it will ere long asset t itself, and just as soon as all the circumstances connected with its production, preservation, and marketing become widely known to British consumeis. So far our remaiks have had refeiencc to the London markets, but is is necessary to clearly understand what those are. So much nicety has been enforced heie, and no doubt properly so, in regard to (quality and manipulation of the meat for export that an impietsion has gained that only one quality of meat — the \ cry best — is saleable there, whereas it is well known that a larger propoition in relation to population of indifferent, if not vile, meat is sold in that city than in any other market in England. There are two extremes of quality ■ the highest priced downs, Scotch, and Welsh sheep, and such as we send, and the opposite and often the larger in quantity — the most inferior of the English, and Continental varieties. We may send an oversupply occasionally of the first-clas^ » material to the London market, but London is not England, nor have the American shippers been " bossed 'by agencies, undivided or otherwise, and these Colonies will yet largely benefit by their enterpi ise, for they combatted and overcame prejudice in every city and town in England. Butchers would not buy frozen meat, and consphed to decry it. American shippers opened retail shops and undersold their oppponents, and it was not until the Americans resources were overtaxed, and the ptices in the eastern cities of the States brought to a level with British quotations, that competition was withdrawn. It would appear that the States and Canadian trade is again showing vitality, and as Londons does not appear to be regarded bv shippers from those countries as their ultima thule, very complete information as to the lines of their policy and commerce would give us a more comprehensive knowledge of the subject, and help to gnide us to a proper course in ours. It is very plain that the duty of acquiring and disseminating such information devolves on the various companies established heie. Enhanced as the values of sheep are, it is appaient that all expenses, charges, and commissions must be reduced to the lowest possible limit, to permit a profit on shipments of mutton. Dual commissions are incompatible with growers' profits, and we commend the following quotation from Messrs Hick B' letter to the seiious consideration of shippers: — "The usual course seems to be for the owner of sheep %o consign them to some shipping, land, I or financial company, who again consign them to the salesman, the said company doubtless charging a commission for so [ doing ; in one case, indeed, a company \ which is largely importing Bheep does \ not even take the trouble to do that, but I employs yet another agent to do it for [•;,them." Patting the best aspect on such ~*% practice, and assuming that the usual salesman's 2 per cent, commission is , divided (which it is suggested is not ttieVcase always) then we have divided responsibility and want of consideration for the interests of the consignors. The ; facts in the main corroborate Mr Reids 1 statement that these agents are only anxJjftU&Jo. realise, regardless of owner's ■ - interests, which are sacrificed to the t amount of from Ss to 6s per carcass of \: mu&on. No doubt this practice would i f fry won fall through, shippers will ac-

quire experience, and ascertain by comparing notes the agents who best discharge the duties ; but the companies can best collate the information and advise their clients. A still more important duty, however, rests with the companies. In addition to London there are many other British ports which have been recen ing shipments ot dead meat lor ycai s, and which have been so fai piactically closed to us. It should be needless to point out how important it would be to ascertain the eligibility of these as depots, and the particular class of meat suitable for the pai ticular market. It is simply absurd to suppose that the 601b to 801b carcass preferred in London would bo in equal request in all other maikets, or where we may ask do the British farmeis sell the sheep they feed up to 231b to 301b a quarter at 20 months old ? There is in the letter of Messrs Hicks and Son a broad principle ennnnciuted, which sheep-fanners here may lay well to heart :—": — " We believe that most of sheep sent here are three, and in some cases, four years old. This is a mistake ; the old theory of four-year-old mutton beini* the finest is now an exploded fallacy. Such may have flavour, but is generally tough and stiitmy ; sheep are at their best at two years old ; in this country we generally regard three and four year old sheep (we do not allude to ewes) as an evidence of bad farming.'" Speaking for ourselves, we need scarcely remind our readers how frequently we have enforced this doctrine, and how favourably circumstanced farmers in New Zealand are for early maturing either sheep or cattle in an inexpensive way.