THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1913. FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 8 November 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1913. FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

The farming community, as well as the freezing companies, are naturally concerned at the prospect or" the frozen meat .industry being affected by the industrial crisis through which the Dominion is passing. The indications at present do not point to any disturbance in the slaughtering trade, and it is hoped that the formation of registered unions will solve the difficulty in regard to shipping. Still, the market is extremely sen- | sitive, and the possibility of further developments may cause the Companies to be less spirited in their com--1 petition for stock - than they would I have been under normal conditions. * So" far as the mai-ket itself -is conj corned, it would appear to be fairly buoyant. A fortnightly review issued ■■ by Messrs Dalgety and Co., Ltd., 1 from the London office on September j 25th, contained the following:—

" Since, our last circular, dated September 11th, business at Smithfield market has been extremely dull, and the demand for all classes of meat has been very limited. In fact, the improved inquiry looked for after the holiday as yet absent. Stocks of New Zealand lamb appear to be heavier than was generally supposed, and, the output being very moderate, prices have fallen -Jd and in some cases Jd per lb. since our last report. On the other hand, there is no doubt that the stocks of frozen mutton are very light, and are firmly held in few hands. Shipments afloat are by no means excessive, consequently prices have advanced about Jd per lb. There

is a general idea that prices of frozen beef are likely to improve considerably in 'the near future. Shipments of chilled beef are lighter, and there is a much better demand for frozen quarters. The price of chilled has not as yet been affected, but frozen hindquarters .show a distinct improvement of abouf -Jd per lb., forequarters remaining practically unchanged. We thinkathe firmness of the beef market is partly due to the possibility of ii revision of the American tariff.".

So far as the chilled or frozen meat trade is concerned, New Zealand has no hope of competing with either Australia or the River Plate. For the year ending August last the quantity of beef shipped from this Dominion was 125,200 quarters, compared with 1,033,700 quarters from Australia, and 2,669,500 quarters from the River Plate and Uruguay. The three countries ship approximately the same quantity of mutton, the figures for last year being:—Australia, 2,379,200 carcases; New Zealand, 2,225,000; River Plate, 2,319,996. It is in the lamb trade, however, that New Zealand occupies a strong position. Of 5,435,879 carcases of lamb that entered the United Kingdom last year, no less than 3,434,000 came from New Zealand. A. few years back it was feared that the competition of the Argentine would seriously affect the lamb trade of this Dominion.' These anticipations, however, have not been realised. New Zealand continues to control the lamb trade, and it i«', therefore, of immense importance to this country that the means of production, transport, and distribution should be maintained. Although the September report concerning the lamb trade is not encouraging, the position has since become brighter, and there is, under normal conditions, every prospect of a most successful season. If, however, the industrial disturbances continue, arid trade is disorganised, the loss to the country cannot fail to be enormous. Is there any wonder, therefore, that settlers should strive to bring the crisis to an early termination? The longer the shipping is held up, the greater will be the loss to the producer. And, in proportion to this loss, so will the community as a whole be made to suffer.