The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, SEPT. 13, 1883. Frozen Meat.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 43, 13 September 1883, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, SEPT. 13, 1883. Frozen Meat.

Tn an able and exhaustive letter to the Canterbury Times, Mr G. G. 6tead points out that tho present depressed value of wool in the European market must needs compel sheep breeders to place less dependance on this staple than they have hitherto been doing, and to look for some other source of revenue from their stock. The remunerative returns from the export of frozen meat demonstrate that the production of mutton will be of more importance than the production of wool, and that a source ol revenue has been opened up which was scarcely dreamed ot until lately, The exisiiug Frozen Meat Companies have done good service to the country, and deserve well of the sheep farmers forinitiating an industry that promise* such beneficial results. It must, however, be admitted that further facilities than at present exist are J needed to cope successfully with the ever increasing production. In former years wool has been more pr ofi tab c than mutton, and, therefore, many fanners kept a large proportion of wethers in their flocks, but now that the production of mutton has become the goal for all to aim at, a much larger proportion ot ew.s will be kept than heretofore, and consequently more lambs will be bred year by year. 'I he absolute necessity for exporting the whole of his available surplus n^av not be realised by the sheep breeder without some consideration, as at first sight it may appear that he will benefit only to the net value of the meat exported. It must, however, be borne in mind that in addition to participating in this, the farmer will reap the fulJ benefit of the inevitable increase in the local value of every sheep he breeds, provided the export is kept up to such a point as will only ieave sufficient to supply local wonts. It is surprising, therefore, that the •beep people are so apathetic in leaving, in a great part, to the mercantile 30mm unity the ta.k of initiating the necessary operations to effect this abject. As a matter of fact the townspeople and consumers, however they nay be benefitted indirectly, will be •ufFerers directly, as every pound ot neat consumed, will, in the eve; t cf .he export being fully carried out, :ost more than double what it has n the past. The onus of helping hv-.mselves lies with the farmers, as hey cannot well expect the towns- ' >eople to be so self-denying as to float ] tympanies simply to raise the local ' irices for meat. Jf, owing to the lontinuous demands for export, any ' emporary difficulty he eventually ex- l erienced in obtaining suffieieat sheep } o keep the freezing works fully emloye.t, and local prices be, lor the t ime, forced up beyond what cau be t etted bj shipping, .tinners will, at i _ast, have the satisfaction of knowing s dat this very rise in value has beeu y reated by maintaining a constant ' xport. It is also _elf evident that c Lich a rise cannot take place unless an mple and permanent outlet ior aurlus stock be provided. A well-sus-lined export is therefore essential to i \ m welfare of the iarming community, o

and to insure this, shee > owners sh ul I come forward and guarantee to th*' freezing companies f'«r two or rhre • years, say one third or ont fourth of rheir available tat stock. By that time it may be sissumed that the business wiil have been established on such a solid footing that supplies will be perfectly regular without the need of guarantees. For the present, assurnnceof regular supplies is absolutely essential, as the chart erin_: of ship.. and thi? erection of n ew works cannot, safely lie proceeded with unless .some basis of future requirement., be fixed '-eforehand. ' Mr Stead concludes by urging on the fanners and breeders th*- nece-sity for nni-ed und vigorous action on their parr in .supper: o> tlie new industry. As far »s the Manawa'n is concerned ir is grat.ifu'iig to know that the settlors are giving warm support'to the Wellington Meat Preserving and KefH^eruriug Company, .'•bowing that they *ue quite alive to the future b--.<ieHi\s u» b.derived th"!-ej*r in iris ro bf> wished that the sain'- support w ill ho exten.ed ;to the Ctieo-e nnd _>_rrer hacro^v. becuu..e every word we h .ye mix,!/, t on the su; ji-ci <>f growne; mutton wii! apply lo ii ilk. :' h*> floater thf export in the 10.-m of' cheese, the hightr will bo the price IT th_ i.rticle consumed locally.