Frozen Meat Industry.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 192, 18 August 1904, Page 4

Frozen Meat Industry.

THE ERQZEN MEAT INDUSTRY. Mr W. Buchanan, M.H.R.,- speaking at a meeting of the Wellington Meat Export Company, of which he is chairman, gave some interesting figures regarding the decrease in the number of sheep, and the prospects ;n the near future. "It is to beiegretted," said hie, "that the stock of ijlieep in the colony shows a further decrease from 18,954,553 lust year to 18,289,534 this year, a difference of 665,014, or equal to 0} per cent. In the Wellington, West Coast, and Napier districts, however, from which the company draws its supplies, the decrease, I am glad to say, is only 121,0U0, or equal to Hi per cent. The actual deliciency in the number of stock dealt with by the company is in sheep and lambs 63,037, and in cattle 3271. The number of lambs was about- the same, so that the deficiency was in sheep, and is mainly accounted for by the ewes frozen in, the previous year for South Africa. The number of cattle in the colony has increased during the year by 132,884, and a greater number would probaibly have 'been frozen had the London market -been more favourable and the new freezing works j ready. There was an increase in I lie number of sheep frozen for owners, and a decrease of 22,431 lambs and 1770 cattle. The deficiency in lambs was mainly owing to the very dry : weather which prevailed during part of January and the whole of February, the effect on the rape and other feeding stulls being in many cases disastrous. Of tlio total decreased export ol' 448,831 carcases of mutton, the North Island is responsible for 162,103 carcases, or oqual to 12 per cent., and the South Island for 286,728, or etjual to 23 per cent. Similarly as to the decrease of lambs the North Island is responsible for 49,875 carcases, or equal to 7 pel' cent., and the South Island for 33,534, or dtjual to 3 per cent. In total weight of mutton, laml(, and beef exported the North Island appeals to be steadily increasing its lead, the excess for this year being equivalent to 384,633 carcases of 601b each. Taking the average weight of cattle exporteid from the whole colony at 8001b, the past year shows a decreased export of .10/103 head, or equal to 32 per cent. The jxport of butter is steadily increasing, the number of boxes 1 frown by the company for the year bfting 1 202, as against 160,416 for the previous year, or equal to an increase of 10 per cent."