The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prevalebit. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1886. THE FROZEN MEAT EXPORT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1375, 20 October 1886, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prevalebit. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1886. THE FROZEN MEAT EXPORT.

It is pleasing to be able to think that we have seen the worst of the bad times and that things are on the mend generally. Wool has improved considerably in value, and there appears to be a good prospect of fair prices for grain, and it only needs to be assured that that other great industry, that of raising meat for the Home market, is fixed upon a firm basis, with a reasonable certainty of remunerative prices, to solve the problem of successful agricultural and pastoral enterprise in New Zealand. We have had something to say about both wool and grain in recent issues, and propose now to glance for a moment at the outlook as regards the meat market. Not so long ago producers were a good deal depressed by fear of the competition of Southern America, and more recently of that of the Falkland Islands a trial shipment from which it appeared had been placed on the London Market at a good figure and which it was feared would form a formidable competitor with New Zealand. It is, therefore, highly satisfactory to find that these fears are likely to prove unfounded, as it seems that from neither quarter can the English market be supplied with meat which will bear comparison as to quality with that raised in this colony. The climate of La Plate is too dry and hot to enable the production of mutton and beef of the juicy character so dear to John Bull, while that of the Falklands is on the other hand so bleak and cold that the grasses are said to be deficient in nutritive quality and the meat raised thereon will not bear comparison with that of New Zealand in point of quality or flavor. Canada, again, has for so large a part of the year so inhospitable a climate that cattle have to be fed for months on roots and hay, and hence, although her comparative nearness to the English market is in her favor, this is more than counter-balanced by the advantages we possess in not having to house our stock. In point of fact it appears certain that no part of the world is able to supply the London market with an article superior, if equal, to our own, and this fact will, it may be regarded as certain, always ensure a ready demand for New Zealand meat in preference to any other. Nor is there any reason to fear the supply exceeding the demand for many years to come, the magnitude of the supply required to meet the consumption of the United Kingdom being readily appreciated in view of the fact that for a single year the export of meat from Chicago alone reached a value of thirty-six millions sterling, the greater portion of this enormous quality being taken by England. But we need not be restricted to the English market only. France there is every season to think, will yet become a good customer

for our produce, and we are glad to see that India also is likely to look to New Zealand as her source of supply. The session before last it was pointed out in the House of Representatives that this would probably be, the case, and the Government communicated with Bombay and Calcutta on the subject, and now we learn that the papers in both these cities have lately been pointing out the desirability of importing frozen meat from Australia and New Zealand. Arrangements should be mads for trial shipments, not only to India but to China also, and we are sanguine that the results would be of a satisfactory character. Indeed, we are persuaded that it only requires energy on our part to turn the advantages of soil and climate which we possess to excellent account, and to ensure a demand from many different quarters which must give a great impetus to production, and so conduce to the prosperity and progress of the colony.