THE FROZEN MEAT COMPANY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 639, 29 August 1882, Page 2

THE FROZEN MEAT COMPANY.

To-day the meeting to consider the advisableness of establishing a Frozen Meat Company is to bo h 'Id, and we sine 'rely hope it will be well attended. The question is one of such great public importance, affecting as it does every one in the County di-ectly or indirectly, that all may be fairly expected to take an interest. It is too often the case that in affairs of this kind all the preliminary work is left to a few. The great mass of those whom it is intended to benefit stand c.;oly aloof with their hands m their pockets, and say, " Well it may be a very good thing', let these other fellows find out whether it is or not. If it is we will take advantage of it, but we are not going to bother ourselves about it for the present." We trust there will be none of this sort of feeling on this occasion, but that every one will help in the work by gaining or giviing their mite of inforni-.ition. and attending the meetings. ■ No doubt wo shall hear many arguments brought forward to-hiy, both for and against the schema. The principal ohjocti his we have heard mg d are, that the expense will be groat and that there will be /i difficulty in getting a sufficient quantity of meat and produce to induce vessels to visit this port. Regarding the first, we cannot see the necessity of any great expenditure. We see by articles in English papers that tho matter is attracting so much attention at Home that many vessels are being' fitted with 'A apparatus, and from what wo can loam there is no necessity at all in a s nail place lor having a refrigerating apparatus ashore, when the stock can be slaughtered close to the ship's side and taken aboard without any knocking abuut. In fact the Mataura's cargo was shipped in this way. Now, in Akaroa Harbor there are many sites close to the water's edge suitable for the erection of the necessary yards and sheds, and one of those sit s could probably ha got on lease for a small annual rental, while the buildings might be made of the most unexponsive character. The sccoiv.i question, that if there being a sufficient supply of stock to sand is of a much more important nature. We sec by ihe telegrams that tho Lady Jocelyn has boon secured by the Wellington Frozi-n Moat Company to load there, the conditions being tint I hoy are to put on board 275 tons of UiCJit and 550 tons of d;tiry produce. The Liidy Jocelyn is one of the largest sailing ships «float, and we think there would bo no difficulty in getting v vessel of lia.lt' lier reglrftei- to come Jiero and take half, the quantity of produce. Five thousand sheer) at an average of OUlbs each would be J 50 tons, ami >ye shoiil^

think there would be no di.ificalty in getting together 100 tons of dairy produce, and this should induce a vessel to visit us, particularly when, as before stated, she could be ballasting with pram from Timaru whilst lying here. These are the questions therefore for the meeting to consider, and in our opinion they should do nothing rashly. After discussing the questien, let them form a large and influential committee to thoroughly investigate the matter, and let that commitiee go to evoiy farmer on the Peninsula and say to him, Will you send anything ? Can you send anything? , How much can. you promise to send ? This may be ea ily done by dividing the County into districts, and giving a member of the committee residing in each locality a share of the work, or it may be done by employing some one to go round at the expense of those interested. In any case the information can be easily obtained, and once obtained it will bo something definite to go on. When this is done another meeting can be called, the ipsults laid before them and the scheme either taken up or dropped as may seem best. ......

In our opinion there would be little difficulty in arranging for two shipments per annum, an I we are surouf one thing, that once started, many persons would raise a number of fat sheep annually, who now never dream of doing so, The advantages of transport to England direct from our own harbor are so gi\;at and obvious, that if a company could be formed to carry out the business without; any actual loss, it would be an inestimable advantage to all Peninsula residents.