OUR MEAT IN AMERICA.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 850, 23 June 1910, Page 2

OUR MEAT IN AMERICA.

CAN IT SUCCEED? OPINIONS' PRO AND CON.(By TolegrapU.-Speeial Corresrxmdent.l Christchurch, June 2L. , Tbo United States of America haw loug beon regarded as a likely market for Now Zealand mutton, but, up to within quite recent times, the tariff;' wall and tho absence of direct ship- 1 ping communication formed a serioua barrier. Some interesting news was recently received; to the effect that some New Zealand mutton shipped to England had been forwarded to New York where it brought -a profitable return; to the shippers. A representative o£ tho "Press" had a conversation to-day with Mr. Algarnor Borthwick, of Borthwick* tnd Sou, in regard to the possibilities of a direct trade with the United States and Canada. A Hopeful View. Mr. Borthwick recently received a letter, dated April 8, from his brother, who represents the firm in London, stating that he had, during the previous week, shipped about 800 carcases of. New Zealand mutton to New York, and' that other firms were also shipping some. This was quite a new departure, and it bad occurred at a time when Now Zealand sheep in London were, very dear. The mutton entering thai States would have to pay Jd. per lb. duty, the freight would probably be Jd. per lb., and there would be some other charges. Tho whole point of the transaction was that, on an average period, ' New Zealand meat would be a halfpenny per lb. cheaper, and that a direct freight from New Zealand to the States would also be a halfpenny cheaper than if the meat went via England. Thia meant that New Zealand mutton could bo landed in New York Id. per lb. I cheaper than had been done by tho recent shipments. There appeared to Lu possibilities in the trade, if America could take the mutton, at those prices. "I have been told in New York," Mr. Borthwick continued, ."that . tbo very best restaurants there have alwaya imported their 'fresh killed mutton' from England for their tables, as the American mutton is so inferior. There is no doubt that the United States and Canada are not'sheep countries, especially when compared with the dimensions of the beef and pork industries, The people do not eat mucli mutton, but that is probably owing to tho fact that their mutton is very poor. With the present agitation in tho States for cheaper living, it seems more likely that New Zealand could get some- of her mutton into that country than into the Continent, where the duties and conditions of importation are designed to bo prohibitive.. Nearly all the sheep » tho States are Vermonte — and rather scraggy. The sheep-growers have a protective duty in wool of about 'ojd. per lb., and if that' were taken away, it is probable that sheep could not be grown there profitably. Howevor, if the duty were taken off wool and meat, New Zealand would have great opportunities of sending mutton to the United States and Canada. Meat has been shipped for some years now from America to Canada (Vancouver), but the space in the Vancouver steamers is quife unequal to tho trade. Tho Union Steam Ship Company, to satisfy shippers, called for tenders for space, and allocated it in proportion, but to nothing like tho extent that shippers desire. This being the case,' it is highly desirable that New Zealand should; hayc, direct shipping communication with Canada and the States." Another View: 'Pessimistic.',. Another.-genUomaii, who is; interested in the frozen meat trade, was ~ also asked for his opinion as to the -probability of a regular trade being maintained with America. He wan, however, decidedly pessimistic on. the subject. Ho mentioned that ho had cabled Home to his principals inquiring whether any importance could be attached to the reported shipments of New Zealand meat to America, and his reply was that the event had no significance- whatever. He was of opinion thst- the short-ago in America was purely temporary, and, while there might be a few more shipments of New Zealand mutton from England, it was most improbable that a permanent connection could be established. There was no doubt that the operations of tho Meat Trust had resulted in the United States flocks. being ■ brought down below normal, as it was tho policy of -the trust to keep supplies small and maintain high prices. The whole policy of the States, however, was' to bo entirely independent of outsido supplies, and the sentiment of the peoplo was intensely Protectionist. There might be imports of foreign mutton for a time, but the outcry would be so vigorous that it would be stopped summarily. ' The States were not likely to change in a day from a meat exporting country to a meat importing country. Canada was still exporting, and, if the States supplies were short, it was natural to presume that tho deficiency would bo made up from Canada boforo New Zealand or Australia was called upon. Moat Trust Agents. It is understood that Messrs. Malkow and Kaufmann, the two representatives of Messrs. Swift and Co., of' Chicago, who are now in Australia, intend to visit New Zealand. Also, it is rumoured that the object of the firm which they represent is to obtain supplies direct from New Zealand and Australia, and that they are out to make the necessary arrangements, either by acquiring works or making agreements with existing companies. Mr. Malkow visited New Zealand on a previous occasion in the interests' of his firm, and t-hero is a feeling' that, on this siou, something tangible will result.