FROZEN MEAT INDUSTRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2735, 14 February 1910, Page 2

FROZEN MEAT INDUSTRY.

THE QUESTION OF STORAGE.

INTERVIEW WITH MR. AV. D

LYSNAR

Amongst the many interesting subjects in connection with the Frozen Moat industry at the recent conference in. Christchurch, considerable attention was given to the question of the storage and shipment of frozen meat. In this connection a “Times” representative had an interesting interview last evening with Mr. W. D. Lysnar. In the course of conversation Air. Lysnar said that apart from the large losses sustained by farmers in consequence of claims for damages at the London end. the next most important matter dealt with at the conference was the question of the regulation of shipments of meat from the Dominion to London and the storage at that end. From enquiries he made from several of the- experts attending the conference, lie was told that it was possible to store meat for 6 months without;any 1 apparentdefe/riorat-ion, but that that period was not the limit for which meat could bo stored. Bearing that fact in mind, and then considering the storage capacity of the freezing works of the Dominion, it was quite plain that very great advances could be achieved by the producers of the Dominion, if "the meat were held in storage to suit the market at the other end. It was not suggested that there should be. any interference with the regular flow as it was ready to come from, the farm, as such a course would not be practicable for the reason that feed and weather conditions are the rea l controlling influences. According to official information gained by Air. Lysnar, the total storage capacity of the twenty five freezing woi’ks in the Dominion is equal to 1,788,400 carcases. and according to the official year book, New Zealand, in 1908, exported 2,120,303 cwt of meat, which, taken at an average of 581bs per sheep, represents 4,240,606 carcases of mutton. This, it is claimed by Air Lysnar, shows that the storage capacity at the present day in the Dominion is only 331,900 carcases short of a capacity to store half the Dominion’s total output. His suggestion to the conference was that all the freezing works in New Zealand should make a reasonable charge to farmers for holding over shipments until a favorable opportunity. which would be decided Lyv the farmer himself. Under the existing conditions the freezing companies were charging a lump sum for all freezing charges, and it was naturally to their interest- to clear all the meat from the works as speedily as possible, especially so at the end of the season, as the sooner the works can he cleared, so much sooner will the expense of running them be at an end. The shipping companies, Mr. Lysnar states, would no doubt prefer the present system of rushing the total supply Home in the shortest possible time, to continue, and thus be able to lay up as many of their boats as they could in the winter months. If the freezing companies would meet the farmers in the matter, it would be a great advantage and they could, towards the end of the season, hold the works-fairly full, and then ship at regular intervals through the winter month® in order to equalise the stock arriving at the London market throughout the year. Air Lysnar contends that if this course were adopted it would do away with the. long standing complaint of Home agents, that they were not kept going with a regular supply of meat, the market being glutted at certain periods, while at others absolutely nothing is received. The Dominion’s meat, under the present system, is dumped in London during the few months corresponding to the fattening season here. “In this way,” continued Aik. Lysnar, “the Home agents tell us that they cannot hold the best trade owing to the irregularity of shipments, and when the bare part of the year arrives there is no Dominion meat to sell. In consequence, retailers are compelled to go and get other countries’ meat, and in that way the Dominion’s competitors get a footing from which it is hard to dislodge them when the supply commences to come again in the next year. It is generally 'recognised that this phase of the question has been particularly disadvantageous to Australia, whoso output fluctuates according to seasons, from under a million carcases to treble that amount. New Zealand, on the other hand, is regular in the quantity she ships in a certain period. “It is not to he expected,” continued Mr Lysnar, that the freezing companies should fall in with The suggestion of storage, without sonic allowance being made to them. For that reason a monthly charge should be arranged. According to the official figures, the total storage capacity in London, to accommodate the .meat supply from all parts of the world, is equal to 2,730, GOO carcases, being, roughly, a capacity of about a million carcases more than the storage capacity in the Dominion. So it will, he reaclilv seen that with large shipments from all parts of the world, a glut eoukl easily be occasioned in the London market, such as did arise last season when the storage capacity was overflowing, ami we were pouring in heavy .shipments, at the last period of the season. It would lie far better, in my opinion, for New Zealand to control its own stora"". than to depend on London storage over which it ha® no control. It also points to the necessity of New Zealand having some special provision in London, so that a regulated supply spread over the whole year, would be sure of proper storage independent of upplies from other parts of the world.” Continuing, Air. Lysnar, m answer to .a question, stated that he was aware that it was suggested that of the storage scheme were taken up it should be at the. London end, and not in tlio Dominion. The only advantage that lie saw in the. proposal would be the fact that the stocks would be. on hand for immediate sale when required. On the other hand, he had heard experts contend that the storage should bq at this end, for the reason that the freezing was thus- continuous. If the meat were, sent Home for storage there would be two breaks in the freezing

process, either of which, if at all delayed, might cause great trouble, especially if the meat were stored in London foV aiiy lengthy period. This was particularly noticeable in the butter export trade, as either loading, at this end or discharging at the other end, a partial thaw might take nlace, which would bo detrimental to the product stored.

“Another reason why we should store at this end,” Mr. Lvsnar went on to sav, “is that we already have a large, storage capacity in the Dominion available for immediate use. It may be found necessary, if the course be; adopted, to. still further increase storage capacity at the different works in the Dominion, so as to give more room for handling the different linos, but the system would be a remunerative one for the companies, and tin. additional, cost would be small as comnared with the great g'ood which would bo brought about by the change. A further reason in sumwrt of the scheme is that most of the Dominion’s freezing works are so situated that additional storage accommodation could be provided Avithout adding to their rents. They all (have ample room, and the present staffs would suffice, but when in London the staffs would have to lie increased, and heaA'y prices naid for sites.”

Mr. Lysnar further went on to explain that the storage capacity in the Dominion was well spread over the 2o works, controlled by fourteen freezing companies, and he was satisfied that it would he in the interests of the producer that something of the. sort should be done. The advantages offered bv the proposals were clearly shoAvn by an illustration brought under his notice in Napier, a few da vs a«o. He Avas there shoAvn a farmer’s return for a shipment of lambs, Avhich Aveie sent Home at about the same time as a shipment of lambs sent from Gisborne, and of Avhich Air. Lysnar had the figures. Both shipments ari-Wed in London when the glut was on. The Gisborne lambs Avere sold in the ordinary course, and netted 2d m*r lb.. AvliiJe the London agent for +l ~ Napier shipment secured storage and held the line until the glut AA'as over. Avith the result that the Napier farmer netted over 4d per lb. for his meat, after the extra cost of storage had been deducted. “With a little extra cost.” continued Mr. Lysnar, “a\'6 could arrange to store half of our output if it was so desired, and then it could go forward in that period of the rear in Avhich we uoav send absolutely nothing.”

Asked as to the probable outcome of the Conference, Mr. Lysnar stated that he regretted A-er%- much that the representatives of the freezing companies attending the Conference had assumed so hostile an attitude, to the storage proposal, and, in fact, to every other proposal brought forward Avith an intention to benefit the producer. If it had been suggested that the freezing companies should go in for the new storage scheme without their mailing anv extra charge, their attitude could well he understood, but as the. suggestion A\*as made to them thn x some consideration Avonkl be paid he thought that the least they could lia\'e said was that if the producers Avished it they (for a consideration) A\*ould make provision for it, particularly at the close of the fattening season, Avlien killing is stopped. “Thev are in a conservative rut,” declared Mr. Lysnar, in conclusion “and in a rut in Avhich they are doinw very '.veil, and naturally they Avisli to leave that avcll alone; but, os the chairman of the Conference stated, if matters continued in their present unsatisfactory position, the lands of the Dominion aa"ill ha\'e to bo put to some more profitable use than sheer* farming.”