The Dominion. MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1909. FROZEN MEAT CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 694, 20 December 1909, Page 6

The Dominion. MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1909. FROZEN MEAT CONFERENCE.

A pbaisewokihx effort is being made by; the. Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association to, promote a conference of all interested in the frozen meat' question. At a recent meeting of the Association it was resolved to take steps to . arrange a conference with the Agricultural and Pastoral Associations, Farmers'' ■Unions, stock ageatsj freezing companies, and shipping companies, "ior the purpose of discussing, and, if possible, arranging some method' of improving the meat export'trade." The secretary of the Association has issued invitations for this conference, which- it is proposed shall be held in Wellington to-; wards tho end of next month. It is recorded in • tie circular. that "one of the objects: being to obtain as: muchi information as possible as to defects in tho present methods of exporting and selling, it is proposed to invite anyone who is in a position to do bo to attend and either address the conference on the present system, or supply information with regard to Bamo by correspondence." It has been stated that some, if not all, of tho freezing companies would fail to be represented at the conference, but wc believe that both_ the Wellington companies will take part in the.conference. No. reasonable objection can bo urged against the holding of this conference;-at the same time it is hardly likely that any immediate results will follow; that is to say, anything likely to move tho trade out of its present groove. The depression • in theifrozen meat trade is mainly the natural , result of tho working of economic laws; ■ Since 1899 the trade has been passing through some changcs.' The Boor War was a disturbing factor. It causod large supplies of meat tobe diverted from regular channels and dumped ato: South: Africa, and, furthermore,

what wo would regard as low grade meat wont into consumption. These were days of big prices, and some of the South African cold storage companies made huge profits. Most of them have. Binco passed out of existence. Tho. destruction of cattle and sheep through tho war and the ravages of rinderpest' for a time made South Africa a profitable market to Australia and New Zealand, not alone for meat, but for other produce also. The Australian drought which was. felt during tho earlier part of the decade was another important factor in helping to maintain high prices: Moreover, when Australia was able to resumo exportation a considerable market was found in the East. •' • "' Within, the past two or three years a very great change has come, over the situation. ._ The Australian flocks, though not equal in numbers to the pre-urought days, have increased very largely, and the sheep are of a better" class. More attention has been given to the production of freezers, and during the. past two years the export of meat from Australia has shown remarkable expansion. The current season promises to yield even 'better results. 1 hose'conversant with the most recent statistics do not require to be told that in both mutton and lamb the exports from Australia l are exceptionally large this season. South Africa is not now available as a market. Indeed, South Africa is'likely at no very distant date to bo an exporter. There are said to be about twenty-five million: sheep in South Africa, of an improved quality to those in the-country at the time of the war, and, efforts at improvement are being continued. The East is a dwindling market, and, what is worse, a competitor has arisen who is bound to capture what: ever trade the East can offer. China is in the frozen meat trade, and is supplying. Vladivostok arid . other places. China's efforts may seem • ridiculouslypuny when compared with our own great achievements, but . should the Chinese exporters meet with encouragement they have the means of greatly ex-' ■ tending their trade. : ' We have thus to realise that while the production of meat has increased, the : available markets have not done so. We have in point of fact been 1 compelled to rely solely upon Great Britain for our market, and we have further to realise that our'' only market has been depressed because the consumers of the country have been suffering from lack of employment. Again." wo have to remember that : the pastoral industry.is receiving' the; greatest atten-.. tion in the Southern Hemisphere, it is at present the source of greatest supply, and therefore it is inevitable that the'bulk of the meat for the single market should reach its destination at one period of the year. ' Australia is exporting as much meat as possible, and New' Zealand and Argentina also, cac.h without regard to the. other, and it is. difficult to ■ see how this can be controlled. " For New Zealand to play a lone hand in this matter would appear to be unwise, and yet we realise that something must dc attempted. We havo no doubt' that those who address the conference' will have something of in-' terest to ; disclose, and that grievances will be aired, perhaps with, advantage, but we are not optimistic enough to anr tipipate that anyone will, be able to propound a practicable schemo such as' will affect the market rates. It would be interesting to know' which of the three competitors, Australia, 1 New Zealand, arid Argentina, makes the greatest profit per aero on present prices, and it would l do equally interesting to know the reason.' ■. ■ ;