26 TllK WORLD'S MEAT FITlh'K 



exports. Chilled beef enters a high-elass retail trade, where 

 the demand is more regular and prices higher than for frozen 

 beef. The chilling process does far more justice to good meat 

 than does freezing, and it is difficult to avoid holding the view 

 that the great bulk of the supplies of refrigerated beef for Great 

 Britain in the tiiluic will idtiniately be carried at a chilling 

 temperature. 



The largest amount of frozen meat ever sent away from Aus- 

 tralia was in 1914-15. In that year five million carcases of 

 mutton and lamb, and over two million quarters of beef were 

 exported ; it Avill be many years before that record is beaten. 



The constantly recurring labour troubles are alone sufficient 

 to handicap the industry. The big nu^at works of Queensland 

 from whence almost all the beef is exported, are continually 

 brought to a standstill by the despicable behaviour of the union- 

 ists; I was going to say "The Workers,'' but that is a misnomer, 

 they are not workers and have little or no intention of being so. 

 Backed up in all their demands by the present Government in 

 that State, they imagine they have only to go far enough and 

 the private companies A\'ill drop out and the Government 

 take over the works. Then when that comes about, they believe 

 they can loaf as much as they like, receive fictitious wages, and 

 the loss will be made good by taxation and British loans. Such 

 is the pitiable condition to-day of one of the finest and largest 

 sources for a big beef supply, therefore one is not at all san- 

 guine of any inunediate big development from Queensland in the 

 beef line. A normal export of from one and a half to two mil- 

 lion quarters can be looked for at present and in the near future, 

 but a big change in "Labour's" attitude must take place before 

 any large increase can be expected. Queensland cattle kill at 

 about an average of 640 lbs. dead weight at the meat works. 



Great developments should take place in Western Australia in 

 regard to cattle supply. There is an enormous area of excellent 

 cattle country, and ^\'ith freezing works at Wyndham and other 

 ports, a big supply of frozen beef can be depended upon. This 

 supply will be a fortnight nearer the world's markets than that 

 of the Eastern sea-board, and necessarily the freight should be 

 lower. The whole thing depends on the Government ; Anth just 

 legislation, security of tenure, and decent labour, there is nothing 

 to prevent Western Australia rivalling, and even beatin-z, 

 Queensland in her beef output. As regards mutton — sheep and 

 lambs — everything ])oints to a larger supply than formerly. 



