AUSTRALIAN MEAT in LONDON.

Patea Mail, 13 March 1882, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN MEAT in LONDON.

Now that the export of frozen meat has been fairly entered upon by New New Zealand, we are more than ever interested in the results attending the various shipments from Australia. We cannot get away from the unpleasant fact that the cargoes which have been recently placed upon the London market have not been sold as remuneratively as could be wished. Shippers ought to be able to rely upon an average of 6d per lb, or the game is not worth the candle. The latest quotations have barely averaged sd, which after payment of expenses does not leave any margin of profit to the exporter. We have long held the opinion that other causes than the quality of the meat have conduced to the late unsatisfactory results. It is now generally believed that Australian meat has not had a fair chance of establishing itself in London. Errors in the preparation of the carcases for shipment, and in packing after refrigerating, were only to be expected in the initial stages of the industry, and so far as these have anything to do with the poor prices each shipment is sure to show an improvement on its predecessor. Much graver sources of trouble are the machinations of the Smithfield rings, the duplicity of the Home butchers in crying down the quality of the Australian meat, and then retailing it as English, and the inadequate means available for storing the cargoes until the market is favorable for their disposal, These influences combined have hitherto prevented the British public from giving an impartial verdict. We hail with satisfaction the intelligence that a powerful company is being formed in London with the avowed object of securing for Australian meat an unprejudiced trial. The enterprise is referred to at some length by the correspondent of the Melbourne Argus in a letter dated London, 2nd December. The promoters of the company include Messrs Cotton, Campbell, and other gentlemen interested in Australian banking, as well as Mr Bosanquet, the English banker. It is not stated whether it is part of their scheme to open shops for retailing the meat (which we are inclined to think should be one of its principal features), but they wil receive consignments, and see that Australian sheep and mutton are sold to the public as such and at a reasonable price. As one means of placing the meat fairly before the consumer, Messrs Spiers Pond are being negotiated with in order to get them to serve Australian meat in addition to English meat at their restaurants with labels on each so that no one can be misled, and also to establish a special department for antipoedian meat at their butcher’s shop at Ludgate Circus. If this enterprising firm can be induced to enter into the project and to give their assistance in the manner described, a very effective plan will have been devised for securing a verdict on the merits of the article. Sir Julius Vogel is said to be interesting himself in the formation of another company with a similar object. We quite agree with the correspondent of the Argus when he points out that if these companies ore successfully floated, it will be essential to the success of the industry that none but the very best moat shall bo shipped, and that every care shall be taken to place it upon the market in perfect condition. —Agricultural News.