The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, MAY 29, 1911.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3230, 29 May 1911, Page 4

The Gisborne Times . PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, MAY 29, 1911.

From time to time we liave drawn attention to the need for additional markets iii connection with the frozen meat trade. That more could be done in this direction, especially with the assistance of the Government, seems very clear. As far as this matter is concerned, however, it is apparently not the intention of the Government to over-exert itself in the meantime. For our own part we hold that the time lias arrived when the Government should combine with the producers and exporting companies- in an endeavor to open up fresh markets. As was pointed out in a letter read before the local branch of the New Zealand Producers’ Association last .week, the position as to values will never be satisfactory so long as one great centre is the chief avenue of the frozen meat trade. In the same communication, it will be recalled, it was averred that there was room for a strong market at Manchester. No doubt our frozen meat could also soon be established in many other centres where it is now but little known if the matter were dealt with on proper business lines. As to the prospects in regard to Manchester and Lancashire generally, it is affirmed, on the authority of Mr. Billis, the, Victorian Immigration Agent in London, that the cotton operatives have at present got a special preference for Argentine mutton. This is what he says: —“Even under the present unsatisfactory condi-

Manchester as a Meat Market.

,iion, Ls.ii.Ciishire is said to be the larg- 1 est consuming county in the United j Kingdom for Australian mutton. Experts have informed me that Australian carcases, which are small and lean, are peculiarly, popular among the working classes. Since the inauguration of the frozen meat trade, the Argentine producers have, with great keenness, studied the tastes of the operatives in the Lancashire and Yorkshire mills, and now produce a meat which is well known and lilted. Consequently, Argentine mutton sells at a better price than Australian mutton. My informants are, however, of the opinion that if the Australian producers studied the requirements with equal care, and arranged direct shipments, the Australian mutton would command better prices. The factory operatives do not desire fat meat. New Zealand mutton is considered too fat, too Targe, and too dear for the working classes. That from the Argentine and Australia is more suitable, and the South American mutton, though similar in character to Australian, is most in demand, because it looks brighter and is of tetter appearance.” There then is an important point. Why should the requirements of various districts not be just as carefully studied by New Zealand as by the Argentine or Australia P It is all very well for outsiders to say that our meat is not so suitable, but a very different complexion might be put on affairs if proper representations on its behalf were made on the spot. More especially should this be done, we feel, in the case of Manchester, for the letter to which we alluded earlier In this article added that Manchester claimed “to be able to show the greatest saving in distributing the meat amongst the greatest number of consumers than any other port.” Ii would not really be surprising if a little inquiry at Home elicited the fact that no difficulty would be experienced if the matter were taken up in the proper way in placing largo quantities of New Zealand frozen meat regularly at various other large distributing centres. As time permits, no doubt Mr. Shelton will give this subject attention, and his reports will be awaited with great interest.