THE DAIRY, FARM, AND FIELD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 43, 22 February 1900, Page 2

THE DAIRY, FARM, AND FIELD.

"The Farmers are the Founders of civilization " —Wbbsteb.

NEW ZEALAND FBOZEN MEATS. It is a well-known fact that much of our frozen meat and butter has to do duty in the London market, and also in many parts of England, for the i local article before the latter reaches the consumer. As proof of this indictment, here is a good story for whioh an English paper is responsible. The fyketch says that a good story anant the great Anglo-foreign meat question was told the other night at one of the Service Clubs. A certain Major BrownJones, who made it his boast that be never allowed American or colonial meat to be served at his table, recently visited an old comrade in Liverpool. One night at dinner a most delicious saddle of—apparently—Welsh mutton appeared, to which the Major did ample justice. " Ah," he observed, " I wish that my butcher in London would send me stuff like that; and yet he deals only in the best British meats." " Well," said his friend, "as a matter of fact, you have been eating New Zealand mutton, but it is only fair to say I get it from a friend who is a large wholesale importer." "Byjove, you don't say so 1" exclaimed the guest, " I wish he'd tell me where I can get the like in town." " We'll go and see him to-morrow," said the host. The visit was duly paid to the mea.tmonger, who smiled at the Londoner's eulogy and explanation. " Tell me," he returned, after listening to the gallant epicure's remarks, "in which part of London you reside, and I dare say I can give you the address of a retail butcher who will supply you with exactly the Bame sort of mutton as that which you like so much." The Major handed him his card. " Ah!" observed the importer, "there's the very man within two streets of your house. We supply him with all his meat. Here's his address," he added, handing a slip of paper to the seeker after succulent joints. The Major read, the Major started, the Major groaned—the Major, truth to say, cried vengeance, and no wonder, for the address was that of his own butcher, who dealt only in Home produce. The frozen meat trade, since its initiation some 17 years ago, has contributed so much to the past and present prosperity of New Zealand that the subject is of'considerable interest to all who have the welfare of the colony at heart. There can be no question that those who conceived and were bold enough to execute the present system'of sending frozen meat to the English market did much to retrieve and give an upward tendency to the financial position of New Zealand in a time of spme need, and deserve the best thanks of all colonists, who are now reaping the benefits of their foresight and enterprise. Without this outlet for our surplus stock, it would be easy to conceive what the price of cattle a»d sheep would be to-day, and how the settlement and development of the country would have been retarded but for this safe and continuous market.

A USEFUL REPORT. Messrs. Weddel and Company's annual report on tho frozen meat trade of 1899, is interesting and instructive reading. The report deals exhaustively with the various atpects of the trade during the last twelve months, and has attached to it (a) a table showing prices and imports during the past three years—lß97-9 ; (b) list of ships fitted for carrying frozen meats; (c) map of the world locating the principal freezing works of Australia, New Zealand and Argentine. GROWTH OF THE TRADE. The exports of frozen mutton, lamb and beef —especially the two former—has been phenomenal, and few have anything like a true conception of its magnitude on the value of the business to the colony, as a source of increasing the general wealth and prosperity. During the year 1882—the first year of its inception, so far as New Zealand was concerned—Bß39 carcases of mutton were sent to London, and for the year 1899 the number had increased to 3,250,100 of mutton and lamb. Of the enormous "flock" no less than 1,238,925 were carcases of lamb. Taking the total volume of trade with England it is gratifying to know that New Zealand holds the premier posi--1 tion as compared with other countries. Australia is credited with sending 1,205,601 carcases, Falkland Islands 20,000, and the River Plate 2,394,718. Apparently the River Plate is our most dangerous opponent. The trade in frozen lamb is almost entirely monopolised by New Zealand, the exports being for 1899 1,238,925 carcases, Australia 233,500, River Plate only 3379. In the beef trade, however, we are out of it f and have to content ourselves 1 witji fourth place. The different countries rank as follows for 18Q9United States, 2,756,796 cwt, chilled beef i Queensland, 513,225 cwt.; River Plate, 150,368 cwt.; New Zealand, 134,427 cwt., as against 88,495 cwt. in 1890. In this latter year we stood second on the list. Though there has been a rapid advance of more than 50 per pent, in nine years in the extent of thty bmticja of the trade, it has not been pro port joinitely sq great as that o l ' Queensland and 'thle Itiver Plate. Having regard, however, to the limited population of our colony and the difficulties incidental to a new country, together with the handicap of distance from the market of the world, we have every reason t,Q congratulate ourselves on the position w$ hold and to be gratified with the wonderful developI ment of the trade in so short a time,

CHARACTERISTICS OP THE THADE. A special feature of our trade is that while th? whole output of New Zealand meat is sent to Lopdtp and thon distributed, the bulk of River jykfce /,i,ade is done direct with Lirwpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Cardiff; and Glasgow, and a portion of the Australian with .Liverpool and Manchester, but principally X-oridon. Evidently the Argentine exporters hays a strong hold f the Northern markets, and will not be readily displaced. As to the quality of New Zealand mutton and lamb the report btuJsg it was satisfactory ihrougliout the year. Tlw general quality of the beef, however, was not so good as previous' years, when the; quantity with was considerably I less. j

OUR CHIEF COMPETITOR. The report has some pregnant words on this subject, and as they may be ot interest to many they are quoted at j some length : " Much has been written from time to time about the different principles upon which the frozen meat trade is conducted in Australia and New Zealand from those adopted in the Eirer Plate, but the last word has by no means been spoken on the subject. For instance, in 1899 the three freezing works and 30 steamers in the River Plate trade furnished 65,000 tons of frozen meat to the United Kingdom, while New Zealand with 25 freezing works and 27 steamers supplied 80,000 tons, and Australia with 17 works and 76 steamers delivered' only 57,000 tons. Argentine possesses this advantage over Australasia: that it is much nearer the final market, while Australia and New Zealand also ship large supplies of dairy produce, rabbits, and fruit; but, after making allowance for these facts, it is manifest that the South American meat trade has been established, and is carried on upon a much more wholesale, and therefore economical, system than is the trade of the Australasian colonies.

" The superiority of the former is most noticeable in (a) the size and number of the works engaged in proportion to the quantity of meat shipped ; (b) the concentration of shipping and selling in few hands; and (c) the large number of carcases carried in relation to the capacity of the ships in the trade. In short, the great efficiency of the whole of the River Plate plan of operations is seen at a glance, if the actual work done be compared with the theoretical capacities of the works and of the ships. The River Plate Freezing Companies work up to within 75 per cent., while New Zealand Freezing Companies only attain to about 40 per oent., and Australian to 25 per cent, of their capabilities, as these are estimated by the owners of the various works and by shipowners. " The wastefulness of our present system is pointed out: (1) In the matter of time. (2) In the matter of damage to shipments. (3) In the matter of shipping arrangements. That these factors do cause immense loss to producers and shippers hardly needs demonstration. Such continual waste of time and money might be overlooked, though it could not be justified, if Australasia had no competitors, but in view of the intelligent, persistent, and systematic rivalry of the River Plate traders it is suicidal to think of continuing on the present lines." j If these remarks be true, and we are to retain the position already attained, no efforts should be spared to re-model our present methods upon the most modern and economical lines.

THE WEATHER, This is a fruitful subject of consideration to the farmer. It is a peculiar characteristic of the tiller of the soil that the weather never exactly suits him. Either the drought or dry time is too short or too long, or else the rain comes too soon or too late. For the last ten weeks, we at all events have had full cause to complain. The dry spell has materially affected the pastures,, and reacted consequently on the price of all descriptions of stock. The welcome rain of Sunday hst has put, however, a different complexion on almost everything. The fields are again green, and there is some prospect of an improvement in the quality of autumn feed, which will have a tendency to raise prices of both cattle and sheep. Probably satisfaction will reign supreme when the time arises and we 'all make Our own weather, and confine it to our own back-yard; till then we must grin and bear it. This may be practical advice; the difficulty is to follow it.

Agricola,