New Zealand Frozen Meat. 



543 



output ; (b) Whether tiie prices now obtained yield a satisfac- 

 tory return to the New Zealand grower ; (c) Whether there is 

 sufficiently healthy competition for stock to keep prices up to 

 reasonable values, or whether those dealing in New Zealand 

 mutton and lamb obtain an undue profit. 



In their Report the Committee state that the evidence 

 shows : — (a) That the New Zealand flocks have been very 

 heavily drawn upon, and that an increased output in the near 

 future is improbable, (b) That the prices obtained by the 

 growers may be regarded as satisfactory, (c) That the com- 

 petition within the Colony of the methods of sale abroad are 

 such as will secure a reasonable profit to the sheep growers. 



The Report also contains a short review of the history of the 

 New Zealand frozen lamb and mutton export trade, from which 

 it appears that the total export has grown from 2,000 carcases 

 in 1882 to 4,636,537 carcases in 1903, and that the value of the 

 exported frozen meat for the year ended 31st March, 1903, 

 amounted to .£3,229,636, which is only ,£124,364 less than the 

 value of the wool exported in the year ended 31st December, 

 1902. The growth of the trade since its inception in 1882 has 

 therefore, been very remarkable. Beginning in 1S82 with flocks 

 amounting to some 12 million sheep, nearly 41 million carcases 

 have since been exported, while the permanent stock of 

 the country has been increased by seven millions. During the 

 same period sheep scab, which was at one time very prevalent, 

 has been entirely eradicated, and the rabbit pest has been 

 materially checked. 



Since the . import of frozen meat into the United Kingdom 

 began, it appears that out of 83,801,000 carcases imported, New 

 Zealand has contributed 40,732,000 carcases, or nearly one-half ; 

 while 30,072,000, came from Argentina and 12,997,000 from 

 Australia. 



Regarding the proposals which had been been made that 

 retail shops should be opened by the Government in large 

 towns in the United Kingdom for the sale of New Zealand 

 meat, the Committee report that they could not recommend 

 proposals that might seriously interfere with trade methods 

 These methods, notwithstanding shortcomings and mistakes 

 have resulted in fairly satisfactory prices being returned to the 



