The Meat Trade.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 506, 20 August 1902, Page 4

The Meat Trade.

TIIE EXPORT OF STOCK TO AUSTRALIA.

Regarding the space available for the carriage of sheep and cattle from Auckland to Sydney by the steamers engaged in the trade, says the Auckland Herald, the Auckland manager of the Union S.S. Company states that there is a quantity of space available in the Talune, which .is timed to leave for Sydney on the 26th inst. The whole of the space of the Talune had been applied for by local shippers, as the Waikaro leaving Auckland on the 25th inst. was announced as not being available for the carriage of stock, owing to her having made a voyage to Fiji, which brought her under the restrictions of the New Zealand Stock Act, which prohibits, any vessel which has visited the Islands carrying stock of any kind to Australia until a period of 90 days had elapsed since her visit-. These restrictions having been removed, the Waikare will bo able to take her usual consignments. A number of shippers who had stated they would send stock by the Talune have now signified their intention of not doing so, and this leaves a considerable amount of space on that steamer available for other shippers who wish to send stock across. FROZEN MEAT FOR AUSTRALIA.

The shipment of .frozen moat to Sydney by the mail steamer Ventura comprised 96 quarters and 6 bugs beef. 447 carcases mutton, 41 carcases lamb, 29 bags mutton, and 3 bags pork. The refrigerating spaco in tho steamers of the Oceanic S.S. Company is 26,392 feet, equal to 659 tons. Giving ten sheep to tho ton of space, it will be seen that there is plenty of room in these steamers for the carriage of frozen meat to Sydney, and as there is at present a largo commodity in Australia local shippers will bo able to take advantage of tho opportunity offered them by the steamers of tho mail line. Already space equal to 2500 carcases has been engaged for the Sierra, which leaves Auckland for Sydney on September 2.

AMERICA AS A MARKET FOR FROZEN MEAT. The export trade in New Zealand frozen meat, and particularly in mutton, may now bo said to bo fairly established in England and South Africa, but up to the present littlo or no attention has been directed to Honolulu and tho United States of America as likely fields for the extension of the trade. It seems, however, that both places are likely to be exploited in tho near future, and there aro those who consider that a profitable trado might be opened, especially with Honolulu, where the bulk of tho meat supplies are already drawn from tho United States, and tho freights and charges are but little in excess of what would be incurred in sending meat there from Auckland by the direct liners. Tho matter has been engaging tho attention of Messrs Henderson and Maefarlanci tho local representatives of tho Oceanic Steamship Company, and the Auckland oilice is now in communication with tho San Francisco office on tho question of making experimental shipments, in order to test the market. The company’s vessels contain amplo cold storage accommodation for carcases, and after going carefully into figures, including freights and other charges, tho local agents have come to tho conclusion that a steady and profitable trade might be worked up. They point out that the American mutton does not compare in flavor with that raised in New Zealand, and that the ruling prices thoro would still leave a satisfactory margin of profit to New .Zealand shippers. No definite steps have yet been taken with regard to sending trial shipments, but it is hoped that tho representations made to tiio Ban Francisco oilice on the matter will claim favorable consideration, and that before long experimental shipments will bo on tho water. Bhould this bo done, and the results prove up to expectations, those interested in tho frozen meat trado here will no doubt take the necessary steps to develop the trade to their own benefit, and the benefit of the shipping companies as carriers.