EXPORT OF FROZEN MEAT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6493, 19 December 1881, Page 5

EXPORT OF FROZEN MEAT.

It will be remembered that at a meeting held some days ago at the A. and P. Association’s offices for the purpose of establishing a Refrigerating Meat Company, a Committee was appointed to collect information. The following is the report of that Committee, which will be considered at a meeting on Wednesday next: — “ Tour Committee beg to report as follows : - “ That the success attending so many recent shipments of frozen meat from Australia to England at once disposes of tho question of the practicability of the proposed undertaking ; your Committee would, therefore, chiefly direct your attention to the following points ; "1. As to the quantity of sheep, cattle and dairy prodnee available for export at the present rate of production. "2. The price at which it is now being produced.

“ 8. The probable rate of increase when a certain fixed minimum price is obtainable at that Season of the year when fat stock can be produced at a small cost, j “ 4. That such an establishment becomes a necessity. "6. The co-operation of shipping and insorance companies. "6. The combination in England of all shipping companies and Colonial agents to obtain suitable storage and means of placing the shipments in the market as required by consumers.

“7. The obtaining a suitable site for the proposed operations. “8. The indirect genera} advantages that must accrue to the whole conun unity, but especially first to the landowners and to those whose interests are most immediately con* nected with the value of real property. “ In answer to the first point— The number of sheep in the Can* terbury district, according to the last return, is ... ... 3,487,220 The increase over the preceding year 317.129 The number of sheep in the Amuri district, according to the last return, is .... 286.097 The increase over the preceding year ... ... ... ... 23,7b2 The export of tallow for the year ending June 30 was 1640 toas The export of preserved meats for year ending Juno 80 was ... 8382 owt The export of butter for year ending dune 30 was ... ... 3784 cwt The export of cheese for year ending June 80 was 6480 owt “ On the second point, os to the price at

which meat is now being produced, reference only need be made to the stock salesmen’s reports, from which it appears that mutton is now selling at lid per lb, and beef about 20s to 23s per lOOlbs ; but beef from November to July may be quoted at less than 20s per lOOlbs. Butter is 5d to 6d per lb, and cheese Sd to 4d. “ 3. This point, as to the probable increase of production, with a certain market available, is one which can only be met by conjecture, but is one easily appreciated by practical farmers. It would not, in the opinion of the Committee, be too sanguine an estimate to put the probable increase at from 15 to 25 per cent in two years, and that it would go on increasing in a gradual progression dependent on the seasons. “ 4. As to the necessity of providing some such means as is proposed for rendering stock saleable. This must bo admitted if the foregoing statements are to be held correct. <« 6. In alluding to the question of securing the co-operation of shipping, railway, insurance and other companies in establishing and extending such an enterprise, your Committee think it may be taken for granted that their own commercial success is so closely identified with pastoral and agricultural interest# that they must necessarily unite in providing suitable means of carriage, facilities for storage and sale, &o, &o. In fact we have only to direct attention to the following circumstances to prove that such institutions arc already alive to the importance of the now industry. The Orient and P. and O. Steamship Companies have already fitted their Australian steamer# with the necessary machinery for carrying cargoes of frozen meat and produce. “Tho Albion Shipping Company have fitted up one of their bast ships, the Dunedin, now lying in Port Chalmers. “The Now Zealand Shipping Company are having a refrigerator placed on heard the Mataura, now about leaving London for Lyttelton. "The English Insurance Companies effer to cover shipments against all risks, including deterioration ou board ship from any cause, for I per cent premium. .... ** The Committee arc assured that the

London and St Katherine Docks Company have already arranged to fit up vaults with preper appliances for cool storage specially to meet the requirements of the frozen mea‘ a d provision trade. "The Australian railway authorities mdily provided the necessary trucks suitably fi! -id for conveying frozen meat to the port of :4 m. ment, and a recent telegram informs us that in Victoria ton more are being prepared to meet the increasing trade. "6. As to the operations of the comuany in England, every effort should be made io induce combined action on the part of all colonial agents and companies with a view to placing the meat in a sound condition before the comutner. Observing that seT <ral recent shipments have not realised remunerative rates, your Committee made enquiry as to the causes, and find that the low rales may be traced to (1) a combira'ion of English butchers and salesmen; (2)nnsoundneg>of a portion of the meat, owing to defective pocking and stowing on board ship ; and (3) absence of facilities for keeping the meat in a frozen state after ifb discharge from the ship The Committee confidently expn—os its conviction that the groat consequence, involved in the success of this business will lead to such complete arrangements as will overcome all the defects above-mentioned . Obtaining a suitable sitefor the factory is ft matter of great importance to the suecessful working of ti.e company, and the Directors will have to exercise great c-ire in making their selection. Krona c i of companies now working, it is found that the operations can be best carried on hv the freezing works away from the port of shipment, but adjacent to a line of railway, so as to be connected by siding, and where paddocking can be got for holding the stock until slaughtered.

“ 8. As to the indirect general advantages to the community, it appears to year Committee to be self-evident that anything which tends to fix a minimum price for produce gives confidence to producers and to all dependent upon them, consequently giving stability to trade and a fixed value to real property. Such, in the opinion of your Committee, ia the peculiar suitability of this district for dairy farming, that such an establishment in constant operation, together with a suitable supply of means of shipping being always available, becomes of the first importance, and ae a result the Committee confidently predicts that instead of the depreciation of the land by the too frequent growth of grain crops there would be a continuous improvement and a general occupation of the land of the Colony to an extent that would be impossible under existing circumstances. "In accordance with the views herein expressed, your Oommiteee beg to submit for your approval the prospectus now placed before you, in which it is proposed to make the capital £20,000, but only to call up £IO,OOO, with which to provide site, plant, Ac,, for the present, leaving £IO,OOO to be called up when required for extending the operations of the company. “ Tour Committee would only further urge that if a company be formed as proposed no time should be lost, as a large 'surplus of stock may be expected to be available at the end of the present summer, and if due notice were given to those who have dairies, a quantity of produce might be prepared in such a condition as would render it most saleable in the English market. “Your Committee have laid on the table a large number of circulars, report* and new*, paper clippings, having reference to refrigerating machines, from which it will be seen the Haslam surpasses all others, being very compact, less likely to get out of order, and delivering the cold air almost dry. There is little or no deposit of snow, consequently the meat is kept dry, and has a much better appearance when thawed than that frozen bv other machines; the machine can also be kept constantly going if required, as, there being no accumulation of snow, the air troughs do not become choked, as is the case with the Bell-Coleman and Gifford machines. The following is an estimate of the cost of the various machines delivered f.o.b. London, including boilers and all extras : The Bell-Coleman Co., to discharge 60,000 ft per hour £2635 The Brll-Ooleman Co., to discharge 40,000 ft per hoar 2040 The Gifford Co., to discharge 25,C00ft per hour ISO2 The Haslam Co., to discharge 4O,oCoft per hour 2655 J. and S. Hall machine, to discharge 30,000 ft per hour £096 J. and fi. Qwjnne machine, to discharge 45,000 ft per hour 341 S M Tour Committee have not taken further note of the coat of shipping and placing the frozen meat in the English market, than by a reference to the statements already made public of the shipments by the Prctos, ie., Ac., from which it appears that the cost is about 2|d per lb. It may be fairly inferred that inasmuch os these were the first of an entirely new undertaking, experience and competition will speedily lead to a reduction in all costs and charges. “John Grigs, “ Chairman of Committee.” “ Christchurch, Dec. 17,1881.”