MEA r EXPORT TRA DE. 209 



merino wethers, say, in two classes of 45 lb. to 55 ll3., and 55 lb. to 

 05 Tb.; merino ewes, 40 lb. to 50 lb. ; crossbred wethers, 5(J lb. to Co lb. 

 and 60 lb. to 70 lb. ; and crossbred ewes, 50 lb. to GO lb. No slu-cjl 

 outside these classes should be sent away. In this way the market 

 can much more readily be met. 



A good deal can be learnt from America. In the States the 

 system for the disposal of meat products is almost perfect. Packer.s 

 hare found out by experience exactly the description of animal or of 

 meat that suits the consumers in each portion of that immense 

 territory. No packer, fur instance, would consign ligbt cattle to 

 Boston or New York, or heavy beasts to Baltimore. I'bey consider 

 their customers' tastes and cater accordingly. Australia, on tlie 

 contrary, dumps all her meat upon one market, and then finds fault 

 with the taste of the consumers instead of endeavouriuo" to meet 

 their requirements. If success is to be secured, it must first be 

 ascertained exactly what is the description of sheep in favour in 

 different parts of United Kingdom, and then a wise descrimination 

 must be shown in the shipments. The American " packer " never 

 loses sight of his meat until it is actually sold to the consumer. Tlie 

 Australian, on the contrary, seems to think his responsibility and 

 interest ceases when once the meat leaves the freezing room. It may- 

 be at zero to-day and at 20 degrees to-morrow for all he can tell, and 

 as a matter of fact this not infrequently does occur on board ship. 

 Sometimes it is exposed and softened and dust-begrimcd between the 

 ship and the market, where, as we have said, it is committed to the 

 tender mercies of consignees competing to quit their stuff. 



We must not leave to others what we should do ourselves, and wo 

 must not be discouraged by rebuffs and failures, but steadily put 

 our meat on the Home market regularly and systematically, satisfied 

 to accept a moderate average price one month with another. As to 

 the third condition, the meat export trade of Australia can be indefi- 

 nitely expanded only by the displacement of other food j^roducts in 

 the Home market, and this fact is much overlooked. To achieve this 

 either a better article must he produced at equal jn'lce, or as good an 

 article at a lou-er iwice. Exporters must, therefore, seek profits not 

 so much from high prices for the meat as fi'om a lower cost in pro- 

 ducing it. High prices would simply cripple the trade. It may be 

 very pleasant for individual growers to hear of their meat selling well, 

 but increased values will be followed by a decreased consumption, 

 and a steady trade will be impossible. The reaction will not 

 infrequently be to lower rates than would otherwise have occurred, 

 and in fine, it is these fluctuating prices which to a great extent 

 prevent the meat export trade from being put on a stable basis. 

 Growers must not pay too much heed to the ups and downs of the 

 Home market. Through good and bad times they should continue 

 steadily to ship, for the low prices of to-day will be cnunter1)alam'ed 

 by the high prices of to-morrow, and a fair average will in the lung 

 run be obtained. If only 5 per cent, of the families in I'higland would 

 consume 3 lb. of meat additional per week, it would require 1,000,000 

 sheep to supply them. This may be achieved. The prejudice against 

 frozen mutton is doubtless wearing away as consumers learn its value 

 and become more expert in thawing and cooking it. 



