FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 273, 22 May 1895, Page 2

FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

10 THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Srn, — Kindly allow me through your columns to give the public the statistics for 1894 of the exports of Argentina, our formidable rival in the moat trade. "' Last year the Republic exported Ito Great Britaiu 1,675,600 frozen sheep, 90,000 live sbeep, 29,000 sides of frozen beef, and 2*8,000 live bullocks. Fed cbieflv on alfalfa, thj meat has been somewhat inferior to that cf the States. But in this cire*tion a change is looked for, as I breedeis of beasts for the Erglish market are commencing to grow grain and other crops. It ia alleged thit they can deliver a fat bullock on board ship at Beunos Ayres at £6, and sell it in London at £12, agaiust the £18 for the American animal. Prior to 1880, Argentine cattle were unfit for export. "Since that date the best English stock have been iLtroduced, and this cross has resulted in the production of better beasts wh'ch are now fattened for export." Mr Nathan's maia argument was, our low prices are caused by the great profits of tho middle men at Home, and because New Zealand mutton is sold as English. The •* Own Correspondent " of tbe Auckland Weekly News in his report dated London. March; 29th, 1895, says : — *• Contrary to the usual idea, it is the opinion of sod c eminent au horities in the frozen, meat trade that not more than five per cent at the most of the imported New Zealand meat is really sold as English or a 6 other than New Zealand meat." I ask f.raiers to contrast the sta'istics I have given with tbe platitu les of Mr Na hau. Ftr years pjat there has been the catch poli'ical ciy, " New Zealand for New Ze' lan le s: ' Matters have now come to their bearings. Out-and-out-Socialists, single tasers, etc., will be compelled by the present depression — caused by the low price of stock— to see tbat we as a country form a part (and only a small part) of the mercantile world, and that in order to keep ourselves from national bankruptcy we must devote all our energies to pushing our products on the World's markets, or as sure as night follows day we shall be elbowed out of the running. I am, etc., George Wilks. Feilding, May 2 1st, 1895.