MEAT EXPORT TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 126, 1 June 1904, Page 2

MEAT EXPORT TRADE.

Mr Charles Onyon, of Wellington, who arrived from Rutland in the t'orinthic, spent considerable time in the North of England, particularly in the city of Manchester—the over-po-pulated centre of England's cotton industry. Mr Onyon, interviewed by a Times reporter, says that this large city calls aloud for Xew Zealand mutton, and it would lie a charity if someone ,were 1o clip down the masts of the subsidised West of England steamers to enable them to go right up the canal. When in Manchester Mr Onyon met Mr Edward Openshaw and Mr F. Marshall, who between them control about fifty retail meat shops from which they help to supply some two anil a half million people, or over three limes the entire population of meat-eating New Zealand. Salford is another bustling city operated on by these meat merchants. Mr Edward Openshaw informedMr Onyon that he could take all shipments of New Zealand mutton that could he sent direct to Manchester. At, present the New Zealand product, lie secured was obtained in London either through Thomas liort.hwick and Co., or M. and K. Fletcher, but the arrangement was not satisfactory, primarily because of the price (shipping charges, brokerage railway freight rales, etc.), and because Manchester got what. London refused. As regards tinunce Mr Openshaw was prepared to meet •New Zealand producers in a liberal manner, lie would sell the meat on its merits, and even render uccount sales every week if neccssnrv. He could deal with a six-weekly' supple of from 8000 to 10,000 lambs, and all the low-grade mutton—vi/.., from 181b to S2H) per carcase that could be forwarded. Mr Dawes, son of the late Kir Edmund Dawes, who is interested in the line of steamers between New Zealand and the West of England ports, was then taking soundings in the canal to get information as to the water available for r.teamers from New Zealand, in view of the possibility of Manchester being made a port of call. When the news reached Manchester that, a line of steamers was to Im subsidised by the New Zealand (lovernment to go direct to the West of England ports, the Manchester Chamber of Commerce held a special meeting, and asked itself why Manchester was not one of the ports incn-tioncd in (lie agreement. A cablegram was sent to Mr Seddnn, and he replied that the steamers would call there if sullicieul inducement, offered. Mr Openshaw seems to be an Inducement. As to figures. Mr Onyon states that it costs 3s a ton more to laud goods at Liverpool and convey them to Manchester'by rail, than by direct, dealing with the cotton centre. Meat, or anything else taken to Manchester via London costs .15s per ton more if taken by rail than if carried direct. These are important considerations, even to those who indulge in the luxury of meat, once a week.