THE FROZEN-MEAT TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1348, 27 January 1912, Page 8

THE FROZEN-MEAT TRADE.

CONDITIONS IN LONDON. INTERVIEW. WITH MB, F. J. SHELTON. TUo representative, of the New Zealand Producers' Association in London, Sir. F. J. Shelton, who is at present on a visit to New Zealand to explain .to the association tho progress.of his negotiations with tho Port of London Anthority for tho improvement of the facilities for receiving New Zealand frozen mei»t at London, gave somo interesting details of his trip to a representative of Tiie Dominiox yesterdav. Tho morning before Mr. Shelton left London, when he had almost given-up hope 24s far as that, port was concerned, although ho had made satisfactory arrangements for otherwise discussing the matter here, a further proposition was made to him by the Port Authority—one which should, in his opinion, prove satisfactory to alt concerned. When lirst made to him the proposal seemed. possible, and he went into it, and, after consulting certain people in London, had tho proposition reduced to writing. This proposal is now beforo tho Producers' Association, and Mr. Shelton hopes that tho united efforts of tho producers and the freezing companies will result in the achievement, ol the objects of the association. Tho association has decided to make its ehiei plank the provision, of decent facilities i'or ; receiving frozen meat 011 its arrival at Ilome.' Tho trade, added .Mr. Shelton, has now grown from a small thing to gigantic proportions, and 110 proper provision has ever been made for the receipt of the cargoes of frozen meat ,in London. Various attempts a't reform'had been made from time to time, but they had not been successful.'. For_ instance, sixteori years ago, when he was in London, he saw what the position was, and when lie returned to Now Zealand ho circulated u report on the position and got some very useful information, but there was 110 concerted action, and nothing had been dono in this direction until Mr. Lysnar and several other New Zealatiders wcro, at Home in lfllft. On looking into matters Mr. Lysnar found tho position to be so ridiculous'that 'he gave practically the whole of his time to it. He roused the London people, and on his return, to- New Zciiliuul pushed tho matter further, with tho result that the Producers' Association was formed, and sent him (Mr. Shelton) Home to go further into tho matter. What was now being done in London, was practically what ho (Mr. Shelton) had recommended sixteen years ago.

Need for Reform Recognised. During his recent negotiations, he had found the London people most friendly, and willing to assist reform, and they acknowledge that rpfortn was. necessary. I did not, however, added Mr. Shelton, anticipate having the fortune to bring about this reform as quickly as'it appears likely to como about. If the proposed scheme is perfected, Mr. ; Shelton feels positive that tho result will be. a much larger .increase, in the value of. the pro-, duce from this country than' Trill be tho case if things are allowed to go as they ate at present. ' The freezing companies, ho was given to understand, were uniting,. ■■ and ' • discussing this matter, and were, working with ; the . Producers' Association. With ,'united effort he felt Hire that success must crown the efforts being made at this end. If New Zealand spoke.with anything like a united voice, what was desired would certainly be brought about, but if there was opposition at this end that opposition would soon be known at Home and the authorities would naturally say that the first thing. .fqr„ ~ Ntiiy,'Zealand, . to:, do. was.. Jo ■ first decide on what it required. Personally, his desire was that there should be absolute unanimity at this end, and the -result -|vould;,-bo beyond doubt.-, Too much -praise cianot be given to Mr. LysA nar f .Alr,,,-Hardy, .tand .gave. up . their time to the furtherance 'of this scheme, .said Mr. Shelton. Still, lie was convinced: ttdt if what was now proposed had been douo sixteen years ago it could have been .done reasler than it could bo dono to-day. ■ What hail been lost to New Zealand in the meantime could hardly bo - conceived to-day. -AVhat pleases me most, said Mr. Shelton, is that tho need for something better is being recognised by all classes interested in the trade in New Zealand and in London. When this is the position there seemed to be little doubt that tho present deficiency would bo rectified. One point that could not bo got over was that all the meat that was sent Home was eaten, although it was hot now put beforo the consumer in ■ the best condition, although it was probably the Lost when it left the farm. What, he asked, would be tho improvement' all round if tho facilities enabled the meat to' bo placed on the< English market' at its very best. The Continental Markets. The Continental markets were bound to bo opened shortly, and assist in developing our trade. We might not send direct to those markets at. first, hut they would take other meat away from the present ccntre, aud so give ours a better opening. Reverting to the London scheme, Mr. Shelton said that when once the London people see that New Zealanders are unite'd they will be impressed, with the necessity for tho improvements, and his object was to get everyone to pull together in an effort to gain an end which he was convinced "was iri- the best interests of all concerned.' ...He' hoped that before he returned to ' London a month! hence, ho would havo the opportunity of discussing tho position with the leading men of the freezing companies, and learn a good deal from them. At the present time, ho added, tho facilities in London were a disgrace to tho premier port of the Umpire. Southampton, Liverpool, and Manchester wero at present far superior to London, but, continued Mr. Shelton, there was no reason why London should not be as good, if not better, than the other ports. Further, the Port of London Authority expressed themselves .anxious to do anything they could for the New Zealand trade. Personally, lie was quite satisfied at wliaL ho had been able to accomplish so far, and all that was now •required was unanimity at this end. Our Argentine Rival. . Referring to the Argentine competition, Mr. Shelton'. remarked that their supplies wero growing every month, and the trade there was in tho hands of a few large concerns who were certainly paying special attention to their business. There was a marked improvement in Argentine meat in the past few years, and they wero most active in developing their trade in overy possible direction. In Mr. Shelton'? opinion, chilled beef will have to take second place to' frozen beef. For instance, during the hot weather, chilled beef was out of it compared with frozen meat. It would not keep long after it had been once exposed. I cxpect to seo chilled beef quantities considerably reduced, added Mr. Shelton. River Plato mutton, he concluded, was not in the same sheet as the New Zealand product, although in dress and appearance it was superior to ours.