CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1591, 24 January 1884, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE,

(From the N.Z. Times.)

Sir,-I fear the account sales of frozen sheep per Doric, which will be out by this mail, will be far from satisfactory to shippers. Having carefully watched the sales, and obtained all the information I can, it appears to me that many of your readers will be glad to have such explanation as can bo given of tho causes which have led to such a poor result. In the first place I may say that tho condition in which the meat has arrived is all that could be wished, The sheep hanging in Smithfield market look quite as nice as the freshly killed English ones, and it seems at first sight most difficult to understand why there should be a difference in value in open market of from 2|d to 3d per lb. So far as I can see, there are two principal causes for this—the first, a most obvious one, is, that when a new article liko this is suddenly offered in such large quantities as it has been for the last month it cannot be expected to at once find regular channels of consumption, This may safely be considered

as a temporary difficulty, as, if a .steadysupply of a good article-is'kept lip,' , markets aro sub to -be found for it, A I comparative siatementi just furnishep,' shows -that English .mutton is selling at'|d,per lb less thin at the. same datolast year. There is, therefore, great reason to believe that any shipments which come up to the end of Juno will sell somewhat, better than -at present; After June ..prices generally fall agaift and the hot weather is intich against, frozen meat, 'The second cause of uut satisfactory priccs ia the quality; of the"imoafc.' We have hitherto been breeding with'a view to fat, as that paid best for boiling down purposes. Now, this class of .sheep is not what is wanted here Tho sheep must bo thoroughly fattened, but the;breed must; bo such that a largo proportion-of-meat will be formed, and npb fat alono, -1 see; great difficulty,-, in breeding this class', of animal without sacrificing its wool* producing qualities, and yet, till thisis done, I am assured .that our average prices must bo considerably less than those obtained for English sheep, which have, of coui'so, boeu bred oxaetly to meet tho market, Looking through a largo number of New Zealand sheep) it is evident that but a small proportion are altogether suitable,- and a-very small difference in quality means a considerable reduction in price. It is important that this point be understood, as, if it is not, shippers are sure to form exaggerated estimates of values. At present wo must be content to deal with the breods of sheep we now have, and try to ship them at a profit. It will be a great misfortune to the colony should the low prices now being obtained tend to check the shipments, Every effort should be made to keep up a steady supply and thus to cause a regular demand. If this is not clone all the ground we have gained will be lost, and when large supplies begin to come again there will be some difficulty to encounter, in finding markets,- It is, however, obvious that shipments cannot be continued at a loss, The only course seems to be to clearly realise the fact that that the high prices many have expected are not at all likely to be obtained, and that the only way to make it a profitable trade is to reduce expenso. The only reductions possible are on the items of freight, and freezing. If Mr lieid's experiment succeeds it will remove the difficulty, but in tho meantime a great effort should bo mads to obtain reductions on these two items. Tho shipping company will probably agreo, in their own interest to a reduction in freight, if it is shown by actual account sales that no profit can be made so long as present rates are charged, It will clearly be better for thera to accept a lower rate than to have their moat chamber empty, and when the trade is fairly established tlioj may possibly able to increase. The freezing company must also reduce, their charges, even though tho result may bo a loss for a time, On these two items it should bo possible to make a reduction of 4d per lb. I think wo may calculate-on average prices being -Jd per lb. better than at present. The difference of Id per lb. would give, a small profit, and shipments would be continued. So much capital has now been suuk in freezing works and steamers that thero is a large interest in developing tho trade, I firmly believe that it will bo made to pay if persevered in, and my object in writing is to urgO upon all the necessity of dealing promptly with the facts as they strike oue. A comparison of account sales received by the various companies will show whether on the whole prices arc such as to encourage further shipments, and, if riot, united action should be at once taken to obtain a reduction in charges.—Yours, ifcc,, 0. PUARAOT. London, December 5, 1883.