View report page

101
cargo, therefore, is liable to arrive in an uneven condition, that which is
stored first generally requiring very careful inspection. These supplies from
the Argentine are, however, about equal in quality to second and third grade
chilled American now so largely consumed here, and to which it is an important
trade rival. In addition to chilled beef, we receive a considerable quantity of
both frozen beef and mutton from the same quarter, for which there is a steady
trade at prices slightly lower than that of New Zealand produce.
It may serve a useful purpose to quote here some observations on this
subject which appeared in December last in "The Meat Trades Journal."
"It would really seem as if the beef cattle of England wanted grading
"up quite as much as those of 'foreign' countries from whom we now
"draw so largely for regular supplies. This is a matter that ought to
"receive the attention of the Board of Agriculture, who, we think, would
"be perfectly justified in encouraging and facilitating by every possible
"means the use and service of well-bred bulls. The unremunerative
"character of home-bred cattle is frequently brought forward, but it is
"not to be wondered at when we see the very mediocre quality of the
"great bulk of the animals marketed all the year round. In the last
"quarterly Shorthorn Circular (July to September), no fewer than 22
"pages are taken up in enumerating the animals exported abroad for
"breeding purposes, the list comprising 350 head, the great bulk of which
"went to Argentina, a country that ere long must become a most
"formidable rival to American and Canadian shippers."
The "Times " also alluded to this emigration as—
"a beneficent stream of the blood of the famous breed of cattle in the
"world flowing steadily from our shores ... to level up the herds... in
"climes far distant from our own."
American-killed beef continues one of the staple articles of food consumed
in the Metropolis. It is imported by six firms holding eleven shops in the
Central Market; they have in addition a large number of agencies in the
centres of population throughout the country, and are thus enabled to
distribute their supplies without much assistance from other salesmen. Some
of these firms are also doing more slaughtering than formerly, and by distributing
the dressed carcasses to the trade direct from the Foreign Cattle Market,
where they are killed, form the home producers' most formidable opponents, as
it is almost impossible for any but an expert to distinguish the imported from
the home-grown meat.
Throughout the year Canadian cattle have been imported in varying
numbers, and in all probability we shall receive in the near future regular
consignments from this source, especially as the quality has been better than
was the case last year; it is still, however, not up to the standard of the
States cattle.