mi: A T EXPOR T TRA DE. 213 



United States. Almost every town in the States is provided with a 

 cold storage wholesale meat market, whence retail hutclii'rs art- 

 supplied with all they require, and where meat can Ije ke|)t for tliem. 

 If this system could be introduced into England, iiotliiii«<- could so 

 much assist the expansion of the frozen meat trade. A great saving 

 would be effected^ and the Home consumer could be prcjvided with 

 Australian meat in a much more attractive form, es])ecially if a 

 defrosting department were combined with the wholesale meat market. 

 If Home consumers could be encouraged to use cold stora<>-e for tin- 

 preservation of their own food products, it Avould helj) greatly to 

 introduce and accustom them to the use of frozen meat. Nothiii"- 

 would so much assist the expansion of the trade as the establisliment 

 of these cold stores throughout the length and breadth of the land. 

 The possibility of providing cold storage all over England is a matter 

 which should occupy the attention of Australian meat exporters, and 

 is of far more importance, while being more practicable, than tlie 

 establishment of retail shops. One handsomely fitted up shop might 

 2:)0ssibly be added to the wholesale meat market with advantage, Imt 

 more in the way of an advertisement than for the purpose of direct 

 profitable distribution. 



For ward Bnsinci'is. 



A considerable business is done with Australia and New Zealand on 

 the c.i.f . principle, that is, cost, insurance, and freight are paid by the 

 exporter, who either delivers over the ship's side at the other end, or 

 f.o.b. at this end. The buyer of course takes all the risk of the 

 market, a division of chances which should be encouraged as much as 

 possible ; for although it is the buyer's business to buy at as low a 

 price as he can out here, yet it is necessarily also his business to keep 

 the market up at the other end. 



A considerable quantity of meat has been puirhased in Sydney 

 during the past year by Home speculators at about Id. a lb. and 

 under; but in order that the owners should get a fair margin of profit, 

 it is necessary that Id. a lb. should be netted after paying all charges. 

 All meat sold for forward delivery should be approved by the con- 

 signee's agent at this end previous to shipment. 



luspccttuii. 



No meat should bo allowed to be exported without a certificati- 

 having been first obtained from a Government ins]K'Ctor, declaring 

 that it is sound and free from disease, and this should, of course, also 

 be done in the case of all live stock sent away. 



The United States has a complete system of inspection, and lately such 

 stringent regulations have been issued as to cause exporters to object. 

 But the result is that freedom from disease is guaranteed,^ and the 

 consumer is satisfied. All animals shipped from the United States arc 

 examined at the centre of exportation and a tag fastened i:i^ the car. 

 A complete record is kept so that a beast can be traced. The most 

 careful examination possible of hogs is made. Samples of every h<.g 

 destined for inter-State commerce or export is taken and microscopically 

 examined. 



