N.Z. FROZEN MEAT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 107, 21 September 1912, Page 4

N.Z. FROZEN MEAT.

TRADE WITH EUROPE.

By Telegraph—Own Correspondent. 1 . Wellington, Last Night. The past year, reports the ProduceCommissiojier, Mr. H. C. Cameron, to the High Commissioner, has been a very, busy one in connection with the endeavours )tj> secure the modification, if notthe removal, of oppressive and restrictive regulations in various Continental, countries,' so as to permit of the importation of frozen meat. A good deal of correspondence has taken place between this department and the colonial etc., as well as direct with British Ministers resident abroad, on thesubject, and every phase of the matter lias been kept; in sight. Early in theyear the Foreign Secretary specially circularised the Crown representatires. iiK various European and foreign countries, requesting that prompt information of" any developments should be sent to him.. This circular has proved of much service, and items of interest have been duly brought to your notice through thecolonial office. ■ > <t{

With regard to France, we are in precisely the same position as before—i.e.,. the importation of meat to France instill subject to the prohibitive regulations. However, with the view to ascertaining if it were possible to import into France, on a commerical scale, carcases of meat with the organs in a natural state of adhesion, you suggested that a trial shipment be made from the Dominion, and accordingly placed the matter before the Government. Inquiries have been made through the British Chamber of Commerce as to the likelihood of any French importer assisting to carry out the experiment, and a firm at Marseilles expressed themselves as willing to do so. Full detail* were, therefore, sent to Wellington, and it is hoped that the shipment will shortly be; made. ' During the year an actual demonstration of refrigerated meats as sent from the Dominion was made in the working refrigerators in the New Zealand pavilion at the Roubaix exhibition! ' A special French' edition of our two pamphlets on frozen meat was prepared, and some thousands of copies were circulated, both in connection "With the exhibition and later through the Paris Chamber of Commerce, and M. Flipo, to various working men's clubs, etc. These' will, no doubt, have a very good effect in keeping before certain sections of French consumers the advantages likely to be derived from the free importation of New Zealand meat. With reference to Geramny, as far as the general position is concerned there have been no developments at all during the year. It is known, however, that the cost of living is high and meat prices are expected to rise again in 1912. It would seem, therefore, to be only a matter of time when the authorities will have jto consider measures for meeting the requirements of the masses in the way of food supplies. The Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, in their yearly, report, refer to the matter and recommend, that the desired alterations in the tariff'and importation'laws be taken in hand., Considerable interest was aroused, by a report that a consignment el Australian frozen meat, complying with the sanitary regulations in. every respect, ..had been successfully imported ia,ito Germany early in January of this year.' Careful inquiries were made, and it was ascertained that the parcel in question consisted of one hundred earcases, which had. been forwarded Jry Messrs. W. Weddel and Co. (Limited), to their agents* in Bremen. Half the meat went to Berlin and half to Chemnitz, and the quality ajid pondition were •quite satisfactory from a consumer's point of view. At a later date a further shipment was made, but with the. approach of warmer weather the business was dropped for. the season, the demand for mutton in Geramny not being very large. Enquiries were received at this office from Belgian and German firms who had seen the reports of these shipments, and the opportunity was taken of placing before them full details of the sanitary and slaughtering regulations in force in the Dominion, as well as information as to the quality, etc., of New Zealand meat. In Austria there has been unfortunately a set back in the importation' of frozen meat during the official year now"' closed, the agrarian party in. the National Parliament having rejected proposals for the unrestricted importation of oversea meat and cattle. The British Minister in Vienna reported in October last that some of the Argentine meat that had been imported under the temporary permission had not proved satisfactory to the people, -and no doubt this fact helped the agrarians in their action. The desire of the working classes for cheaper food is, therefore, stM unsatisfied, and no further alteration in the Government's policy has been made or seems likely to be made for some time.