166 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [May 
shipments). The magnificent insulated vessels of the Shaw, Savill, and 
Albion Company, New Zealand Shipping Company, Federal and Shire 
Line, Commonwealth and Dominion Line, are all engaged in carrying 
frozen meat (in addition to other cargo) to the United Kingdom. Some of 
these steamers run up ro over 12,000 tons, and are fitted with twin screws, 
wireless telegraphy, and all the latest improvements in ship-building. 
The customary route before the war was via Cape Horn, with stops 
at Monte Video or Rio and Las Palmas. The Federal and Shire Line make 
Avonmouth, Cardiff, Liverpool, and Glasgow the ports of discharge, and 
all the other lines make London. Wellington to Monte Video is 6,014 
nautical miles ; Monte Video to Tenerife, 4,258 miles ; Tenerife to London 
docks, 1,730 miles : or a total of 12,272 miles. The distance on the outward 
trip via Cape Town is 13,195 miles. 
So regular a service, free from accidents, breakdown of machinery, or 
damaged cargo, has been established that insurance policies covering all 
risks from the time the stock enters the freezing-works, during voyage, 
and, until sixty days after arrival of vessel at destination, are now issued 
at a rate of only about £2 per cent. On some of the early shipments £7 7s. 
per cent., and even more, was paid for voyage alone. Almost invariably 
frozen-meat cargoes now arrive in England in prime condition, and the 
percentage of damage is reduced to a minimum. 
Damage to frozen meat may be divided into three classes—(1) while 
in the freezing-works or during transit to ship ; (2) during the voyage ; 
(3) during discharge and in transit to cool stores or in marketing. Under 
the first head, losses are practically unknown. A great deal of the insur¬ 
ance on meat is now done through Lloyd’s in Britain, but the local New 
Zealand companies and well-known British companies—such as the Thames 
and Mersey, Commercial Union, Indemnity Marine, and others—all handle 
a large amount of frozen-meat insurance. Ninety per cent, of shipments 
are insured under the “ all risks ” cover mentioned before, the balance 
either under an F.P.A. cover at about 25s. per cent., or a cover against total 
loss of vessel only at 7s. 6d. per cent. Rarely nowadays are claims made 
on account of breakdown of machinery, as all vessels engaged in the trade 
have their refrigerating machinery in duplicate. The most usual and 
serious form of damage during voyage is from ordinary sea perils, such as 
stranding, collision, &c., and if sea-water gets into the meat-holds very 
heavy claims arise. Bone-taint is confined to beef, but claims from this 
cause are now very rare. 
It must not be thought that New Zealand’s frozen-meat trade has been 
one of sure and steady development. Probably no other industry of its 
size has had more ups and downs. In 1893 the bottom dropped out of the 
market for lamb, and prices came down to 3d. per pound in London; in 
the following year mutton had a slump, 2Jd. per pound being quoted ; 
and in 1897 another serious crisis in the. trade occurred. In fact, the whole 
decade 1890-1900 was one of struggle and trial in the frozen-meat trade. 
Problems came up for settlement, and damaged cargoes were a most serious 
question. In 1895, 20 per cent, of the cargoes from New Zealand were in 
a more or less damaged condition. As an example of the ignorant prejudice 
that for some time existed against frozen meat, the Director of Contracts 
for the War Office in 1893 said, “We find the beef suffers from freezing, 
and the soldiers do not care for it.” How far this opinion was wide of the 
mark is exemplified by the fact that the whole of the British and French 
armies engaged in the great war are now fed on frozen meat, and the men 
relish it. 
(To be continued.) 
