CHINESE AND BRITISH MARKETS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2657, 12 November 1909, Page 7

CHINESE AND BRITISH MARKETS.

SOME PARTICULARS OF A BIG SCHEME.

I wrote a note in my last letter (sacs the Smith field correspondent of the “P»3toralists‘ Review”) concerning the largo parcel of refrigerated produce imported into this country lately fiom Hankow, where the Union Cold Storage Company have a cold store. Tlio goods exported were of a varied nature, ranging from pork to poultry, and the general arrangements and complete organisation which marked tho shipment, as well as the large sum of money represented by thegoods, indicate that the business has been carefully thought out by the English syndicate which has taken up tho venture. As one of tho world s developments in the region of refrigeration, this experiment is worth watching, for it is evident that the syndicate have had local and shipping arrangements for a continuance, on a big scale, of these shipments. Such a continuance will, of course, depend upon a successful market return from the first lot of frozen produce. , The main feature of the s.s. Palermo s shipment was 5000 frozen pigs, which are in tho hands of Messrs. Fitter for sale. The public have lashed themselves into a state of great excitement over this Chinese pork. Scores of questions have been put to the Minister in Parliament, and Mr. John Burns, the chief of the department, has twice visited Smithfield to inspect the carcases. The papers have been full of horrified protests from people to whom the babbits of the Chinese scavenger pig are familiar. But the importers point out that this shipment represents pigs specially fed on proper food, and, I understand, that a good many carcases have been bought by London pork butchers at about 4£d per lb., who have reported favorably. The public, of course, have no means of knowing whether the pork they buy comes from China or is homegrown. The pork passed all inspection tests well, and from all points of view there can benno doubt that the meat is of excellent'’quality. But in the face of the now regulations put into force, and allowing for the force of sentimental opinion regarding pork from China, it, seems to mo somewhat doubtful if success will result financially. n _ nri Besides . the pork there were 1200 Lake deer, 20 to 25 pounds, some of which have been sold to restaurants at 5d per ]b maximum. There were 18,000 cases of chickens, ducks, and geese, which goods arc in the hands of Messrs Kerry, Hull and Juniper to sell. Ilio poultry were well graded, but were rather poor. The consignment included wild fowl of many sorts. I sampled a canvas-back duck, and found it excellent. By the way, our people call this bird the “ruddy sheldrake. Speaking full and by, although the wild fowl and poultry are fairly meritorious, they are not able in quality to compete with the goods of tne same kind already handled on our markets. Some ■bustards shipped were liked here, these new ventures to a market like ours, already overcrowded with provisions from all parts of the world, are attended with considerable financial risks to the adventurers.