Frozen Meat Trade.

Manawatu Herald, 27 February 1892, Page 3

Frozen Meat Trade.

- The announcement that Australia is. about to increase its efforts to obtain a proportionate share in the frozen meat trade, which she originated in 1880, but which has since fallen mainly under the control of New Zealand and Argentine, has aroused not a little interest (writes a London correspondent.) People on this side of the world have found it difficult to understand the apparent indifference of Australian pastoralists to the development of an industry possessing such possibilities. Explanations have of course been forthcoming, but the obtuse Britisher thinks it a simple matter calculation that if Australia possesses nearly 100,000,000 sheep and New Zealand about 16,000,000 the balance of export ought to be in favour of the former. Nevertheless statistics prove the direct contrary. After languishfor a good many years, the Australian export trade in frozen mutton showed real signs of improvement in 1890, when some 203,000 carcases were sent home. Last year the export had increased to 884,000 with promise of considerable extension in the early future. It will, however require a very decided and sustained effort to overtake and rival the New Zealand industry, which, commencing in 1888, has increased with marvellous rapidity until last year (1891) 1,900,000 carcases were sent home. The River Plate trade, though fluctuating considerably, has already become a very entensive one, and a dangerous rival, even to New Zealand. It is chiefly directed to Liverpool, where last year upwards of 900,000 carcases arrived from the River Plate, while only 162,000 were brought ,to London. With the exception or an insignificant consign ment or two from the Falkland Islands, the figures quoted, which aggregate little short of 15,000,000, constitutes the whole importation of frozen mutton into this country. Complaints have been made that the quality of the New Zealand mutton has degenerated below the standard of 1850, but it is admitted that the general quality of shipments from Australia has been well maintained, and in some respects improved upon.