FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 492, 17 August 1912, Page 6

FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

WHY NEW ZEALAND BKATS N.S.W. AN AUSRTALIAN MANAGER IMPRESSED. Mr H. C. Young, general manager of the Pastoral Finan.ce Association, who has returned to Sydney after a business trip to London, was asked* about the Auatralian meat trade in London, it having been suggested ihat-the Australian product was inferior to that from New Zealand and Argentina. "There is no doubt about that," said Mr Young, " and the reason is easily explained. In New South Wales the first aim is to breed for wool, while New Zealand crosses its sheep and breeds mainly for export. Aided by a better climate, and the fact that th*S trade, is so well organised in that the killing and dressing is a'i done near the freezing works, the carcases, when they reach the English market, are of a much better colour, are more uniform in size and are more appetising from. v a buyers' point" of view than "the Australian mutton." "Are any steps being taken to improve tha Australian export trade in his direction?"

"It is freely admitted in England that our carcase trade is being steadily improved,, and* it'is recognised that the Government's efforts to pass only efficient supplies are helping towards putting a better class of mutton and lamb on the market. At the same time, taking the trade as a whole hare, the difficulty of getting eppab'e labour, at Glebe Island, men who will do their best for their employers in the killing and dressing of mutton for export, is a net inconsiderable circumstance in the difficulties of getting our trade placed fairly before London buyers! In New Zealand there are works scattered through the North and South Islands.

These are. owned by the farmers, who are breeding for export and this all helps to have the dressing properly done. Another reason, and one which is peculiar to Australia, is the irregularity of supplies. Say a pastoralist it the south has a big surplus, and wants to quit them, another man from the west or north may have plenty of grass, and desires to strengthen his flock. So he buys at a price which is better to the seller r than that obtained by sending supplies 'to London through the refrigerating chambers." ' , ,

"Is there any prospect of improving the quality for this trade?"

"Yes. I think this, will come about in the near future. The quality is already improving, but the closer settlement will, I think, be responsible for a big impetus in this direction. South Australian farmors have been attracted to this state by the closer settlement scheme, and they do know how to produce a good lamb for the table in South Australia. These farmers are going in fur mixed farming, and their sheep trade will be largely directed towards breeding the suitable sorts for export. That is where the main improvement imay be expected from for, under present conditions, supplies come in from all parts of the State, from droughty and good districts alike, and it is difficult, with so many in the trade,, to secure a uniform sample of the merino lamb to s'end forward."