PRECIOUS CARGO

New Zealand Listener, Volume 36, Issue 912, 1 February 1957, Page 16

PRECIOUS CARGO

| SEVENTY-FIVE years ago there sailed ) from Port Chalmers a strange look_ing ship whose voyage was to be import- | ant in our history. The Dunedin was on her way to London via Cape Horn with the first cargo of frozen meat ever to leave these shores. To onlookers she was indeed an unusual sight, for although under full sail a’ large black funnel placed almost amidships belched forth thick black smoke. Many ships she later passed took her to be a broken down steamer. She had only two passengers, both young lads. The other 58 had cancelled their passages when a crankcase in the refrigerating machinery broke while she was loading. This historic voyage set in motion the development of a great industry, the exporting of frozen meat. Such ventures can often be traced back’ to one man, and behind the sailing of the Dunedin was the drive and foresight of William Davidson, Director of the New Zealand and Australia Land Company. Helping him in this enterprise was the Company’s New Zealand Superintendent, Thomas Brydone, who was responsible for the successful loading of the cargo. Davidson had for many years been interested in the possibility of exporting frozen meat to England, and when in 1880 a cargo from Australia reached London safely he set about arranging a first shipment from New Zealand. He secured the Dunedin, then came ‘out to New Zealand where he and Thomas Brydone arranged the selection and preparation of the first cargo. This took place at Totara, outside Oamaru, the carcasses were sent to Dunedin, and Davidson and Brydone loaded the first ones on to the ship. With arrangements going smoothly in New Zealand, Davidson returned to England to await the

arrival of the precious cargo. In New Zealand, Brydone did a splendid job, his worst trouble arising when the crankcase of the refrigerating machinery broke and he had to sell locally the carcasses already stored on board. It was a good time for such a venture. Britain was short of food, there was actual starvation and great unemployment, and meat rose often to such high prices that it was out of reach of the poorer classes. On the other side of the world a small population of less than half a million was surrounded with nearly 13,000,000 sheep. It also suited the shipping companies, for the immigrant trade had almost died away and they were now looking for-new cargoes. The voyage itself turned out to be an anxious one and Davidson’s feelings as he waited without news in London can well be imagined. Captain Whitson had to contend with numerous fires when sparks from the funnel set fire to the sails, and in attempting to increase the circulation of air while the ship moved slowly through the tropics he was nearly frozen along with the cargo. The voyage lasted 98 days, and when the ship notified its arrival off the coast of England the Captain, for some reason, did not give the special pre-arranged signal to say that the cargo was safe. Fearing the worst, Davidson set off for the East India Docks. Looking equally worried, the Captain arrived on a pilot vessel, but he was unable to vouch for the safety of tne cargo. When the Dunedin finally tied up their fears proved groundless, as the meat was found to be in excellent condition, and ‘at Smithfield market it was easily and quickly sold. The Dunedin sailed with similar cargoes for several years until in 1890 she met a mysterious, end. She set off on a race to England in company with two other ships. Only one of the three arrived safely, and it is thought that the other two may have

collided with icebergs while rounding Cape Horn. At Oamaru on February 15 a special celebration ceremony will be attended by the Prime Minister and a _ representative from the United Kingdom. World wide notice will be given the anniversary by the issue of two postage stamps in 4d. and 8d. values-on the

same date. It is hoped that these stamps will be widely used for overseas correspondence. This will be the first time in our history that postage stamps will have been used as part of a promotion campaign for a New Zealand product. The NZBS will mark the event with a special documentary, Precious Cargo, written by Basil Clarke (YAs and 4YZ, Sunday, February 19, 9.30 a.m.). This will deal not only with the voyage of the Dunedin and its arrival in England, but with the effect of the cargo on the meat trade and the stir it created in England. It will also show how the wealth gained from the exporting of meat has helped New Zealand attain such a high standard of living. Basil Clarke told us that while preparing the programme he became particularly interested in the harsh sqcial conditions existing in Britain in 1882. "With many thousands on the verge of starvation, on the opposite side of the world food was going to waste,’ he said. Another interesting aspect of his researches was the discovery of the great part played by William Davidson, who has in the past tended to be overshadowed by Thomas Brydone. "As this is the 75th anniversary," he said, "it might be as well, without detracting in any way from the part played. by Brydone, to give credit also to William Davidson." The celebrations will be combined with a widespread campaign to make known New Zealand meat. This coin@ides with a time of keen competition in world meat markets, when our chief customer, the United Kingdom, has more choice of products than she has had for a quarter of a century. Thomas Brydone and William Davidson if they were alive today would be in the forefront of such a campaign convinced that today’s supplies like the first shipment are "as perfect as frozen meat could be." ~-