FROZEN MEAT PROSPECTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1011, 24 February 1912, Page 4

FROZEN MEAT PROSPECTS.

All the latest available evidence points to the probability of the frozen meat trade expanding, but it does not necessarily follow that New Zealand will directly participate in the expansion, says the Mercantile Gazette. Continental Europe has felt the pinch of a material deficiency in supplies, and for some time past the peoples of these countries have agitated with more or less success for the admission of frozen meat. High Customs duties have been considerably reduced, and restrictive regulations modified so much so that experimental shipments have been made to Italy, Switzerland, Austria and France. It will, of course, take some time to perfect the transport facilities, and the system of handling and marketing the product, and probably efforts will have to be made to overcome the prejudices of the consumers. But, given an opportunity, the trade will extend to these countries in due course. It does not seem likely that New Zealand can take any direct part in this expansion movement, principally because this dominion cannot afford to compete with the cheap meats of Australia and Argentine, and furthermore, just at present the supplies that will he available this season will not be more than sufficient to meet the regular requirements of the United Kingdom. But the diversion of Australian and Argentine meat to the Continent of Europe will leave us the markets of the United Kingdom, which are better lor us. Now that the Chicago packers are prohibited irom tendering for British War Office contracts there should be great scope for expansion in the canned meat trade ; but here again the question arises as to the sufficiency ot supplies from New Zealand. We have not the meat available, and this is particularly so as regards beef. The outlook appears to be, however, a great deal belter than It has been for years past.