THE FROZEN MEAT MARKET.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 562, 17 July 1909, Page 4

THE FROZEN MEAT MARKET.

The frozon meat trade is confronted with a difficult problem.- Trices aro at a very low point, and thore arc tons of meat in cold stores at the terminal markets, in ships' holds in transit, and in the primary markets. The situation is unusual, consequently unusual measures must be adopted to bring relief. Those most ex-, perienced in the trade in London have taken the matter in hand, iand, fortunately for New Zealand, both Mr. Mill- 1 , ward, of the Gear Company, and > Mu. Foster, of the Meat Export ■ Company, are in London, and can give the meat importers .valuable help.in many'ways. The trade is suffering from an excess of supply. The exports of mutton and lamb from Argentina, Australia, and New Zca-i land all show phenomenal increases, especially as regards lamb, and this expansion of supply comes at a time when tho' consumers are uriablo to maintain ;the' i normal demand because of industrial depression. Usually a Blight reduction in price has "an immediate effect in stimulating the demand, but this year successive reductions have failed' to move off stocks, and there is now an accumulation' which Mb. Geoegr Goodsib, of the firm of W. Weddel and Co., estimates at a million carcasses each of mutton and lamb. Importers and exporters must bo losing heavily just now, but that would be a minor matter were it possible to reduce stocks speedily. It is rather startling to note the,extent of the decline during an interval of three months, as disclosed in the following table:— April 11. July 10. Mutton— . d. d. Canterbury, light 311-16 3| Canterbury, medium ......... 87-16' ' 2| Canterbury, heavy 2} 2 North Island, beets ............ 3 2 North Island, ordinary .... 2 2 Australian, light 2 2 Australian, heavy 2 2 Eiver Plate, light 2 2 Kiver Plate, heavy 2 23-16 Lamb— ■ , Canterbury, light i Si .' Canterbury, medium i 3 Canterbury, heavy i 3 North Island, selected I 3, Australian, best 3 3 Australian, fair ..' 3 ' ;,' 3, Australian,'inferior .......... 3 ', :' 3 River Plate ...X 3 3J It will be seen from the 'above that the fall is heaviest in New Zealand grades, the lower-priced Australian and River Plate not being so seriously affected. It is important that the glut in the market should be relieved within the next five or six weeks, otherwise there will be a big carry-over into the new season, which, on present prospects, promises to yield another record output. ■ Very soon Austra-. liawill begin shipping, for the new season'has practically commenced in the, Commonwealth. If there is a big carryover, then the deprcseion in the market must continue. /Tho meat importers' agents in London have, at the request of retail butchers, decided to maintain a comparatively high level of .prices for , lamb, in order to provent the meat getting into the hands of street hawkers, but while this movement has its advantages it is not likely to increase the consumption, and that is what is most wanted just now, The advertising scheme may, do .good if properly handled, but it would be unfair to expect New Zealand to bear tho entire coat. The situation is so exceptional that it must | call forth 'aScombined effort on the parl | of those interested in tho industry to meet it, and not merely to overcome the ,existing situation, but to safeguard the future. With tho keenest and most experienced men ,in the industry concentrating their attention on the problem that has arisen, there is reason to hope that the present desperate situation may in the end prove productive .of some lasting', good "in providing as far as possible against a recurrence .of the trouble. The most effectivo.Echemo would be to extend tho markets. If we could get ' France, Germany, and tho United States to admjt frozen meat, the outlook of the industry would be rosy indeed. New markets afford the best and safest way out of tho difficulty, but how to open those markets has yet to bo learned.