Manawaiu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la verite. THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 1884. FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 42, 17 January 1884, Page 2

Manawaiu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la verite. THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 1884. FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

The outlook of the frozen meat trade at Home is not particularly promising just at present. The 1 * Mataura's [misfortttnc has, ho 1 doubt,' told materially to the disadvantage of New Zealand mutton m the Home markets, and the opponents of the trade at home are ; only too glad to magnify all such misadventures to the very utmost. -From the Post's London correspondent we lejarnA^hat' tya the Doric there were some carcases which were condemned by the Health officer as; unfit for. food, from the same sourco we~ - also learn that the j beef, {though excellent m quality, hangs tirp, and the nrutton (all good save the four carcas.es abovenamed) only realised sid to s£d wholesale, a deplorable price.: , The coire.-* pondent remarks': — " I Tear it is no use blinking the fact that the Mataura catastrophe prejudice! the frozen meat trude more than many fancied it did. Anyhow, the wholesale price has fallen steadily since." With regard to the chilled cheese which was sent Home by the Doric, a portion has been disposed of by the New Zealand, lidan. aucl Mercantile Company to Messrs Samuel Page & Son, wholesale butlermen. Mr. Page yays that the cheese, though, m first rate condition, and the best he has ever soen from Australafeia>, is., nevertheless a low-class article of coarse flavour. Jt has been selling wholesale at 56s per 1121bs, while Cheshire (English) cheese, which it mosb resembles, fetches • 60s to 64s per 1121bs. The Doric's consignments will not he vended .retail as New .Zealand cheeser- m ; fac.t,; Mi Sage thinks it most likejy to be bought up by small tradesmen m poor neighbourhoods, who will sell ft ,simply ps, pheese at a very low figure. • Mr Page addpd that if the price obtained wholesale is considered satisfactory by colonial shippers, Jifet&av.'oonHignjneiitjß..will be welcome. Common ohee.se of strong flavour always commands a market. As ivguid* - the butter .per, steamship Doric, Messrs PA^G'Wrepclrt that it' arrived m good condition, or, m other words, had nol; been heated on the voyage. The quality however, is far from good — m fact it has a disagieeable stale flavour with it, None of the butter has been gold. Altogether the consignment of chilled cheese and batter c^n scarcely be viewed as a succes.ss. We must say this news is \ery disheartening, and we can only express a hope that the prospects of the trade are less discouraging than they now appear to be. The Post's correspondent re niarks ;-r v I shall be very sorry if New Zealand gets the name of supplying fifth -rate provisions, suitable only for workhouses and gaols, &c. At one time there seemed a chance of New Zealand nmtton ranking m people's minds prime Scotch pr Southdown. Unfortunately, the vendors theirjsplyes have put an end tp that. possibility and. now the frozen meat trade seems steadily going downhill." Mgnths ago

we pointed out the certain danger attending shipping anything but prime quality of meat, and the urgent necessity lor taking all precautions to ensure its reaching home m good coudition. Unfortunately, both have been neglected, and the result is now nppavent. ' New. Zealand looked to its frozen moat ttade to lilt it out of the depression, the effect of over-borrowing ; and if the last resource is to be taken away, the outlook i.s gloomy indeed. Our only hope is that with more attention paid to quality, preparation, and -manner of shipment m future, and with other niarkets opening up m India and on j the continent, the frozen meat trade may yet,jcommercial speaking, become the main stay and salvation of the colony.