FROZEN MEAT TRADE

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14773, 12 October 1921, Page 2

FROZEN MEAT TRADE

- BEEF MARKET DEPRESSED. SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM. THE MEAT-FLOUR INDUSTRY. Some interesting deductions on recent cabled reports in regard to the frozen meat market abroad were made to the last meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, in a communication from Mr W- J. Abbott, representative of the Australasian Trade Expansion Co.. Ltd. A cable, received at the week-end stated that the market at home was demoralised, and concluded with the statement: "Frozen beef is unsaleable at present owing to the competition A cheap American chilled." In his communication to the Chamber, Mr Abbott stated that the public were naturally slow to frrip and understand the serious condition and future of the frozen meat industry. "Through taking up the meat Hour project wo have'studied the meat industry world wide, and it is very clear to us that our former markets for beef and mutton will soon be eclipsed by the chilled meat' trade. Our frozen lamb will always hold a market."

"It would take too long to go into the many reasons and sources of our information," the letter added, "but I am sorry to state the condition' of our frozen meat trade has very little hope of improving. Brazil and Argentine have made wonderful strides in the amount of meat produced, and apart from the preferred taste of the publiJ for chilled meat to frozen, these meat producing countries have a. much greater margin of profit which enables them to sell at a price under our frozen meat and still be a payable proposition to them. The more one studies the meat flour industry the greater is the conviction that (his industry is the solution of the meat industry for both New Zealand and Australia."

Major Whyte said that while he was not afraid of the mutton and lamb, there was no doubt that beef would be under a big handicap unless they could get faster boats. They should urge the Government to introduce the sled boat, which could land the chilled meat at home in from 10 to 14 days. On the other hand the meat flour proposition seemed the solution of the beef problem so far as New Zealand was concerned, with a vast favourable difference in selling price of cattle as compared with the present price. For the establishment of industry all they required in the present freezing works was a drying and grading room, if the farmers let this opportunity sli;i from them, the Government should be approached to take the industry up. So far as frozen mutton and lamb were concerned there was no fear from any part of the world, but they had with beef, and the meat-flour industry seemed to him the very solution of the problem so far as beef was concerned.