Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1902. Freezing Works.

Manawatu Herald, 25 March 1902, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1902. Freezing Works.

From reports of the difficulty there is in getting stock killed and frozen for export, it would seem that the time has arrived when the settlers should move to get that attention which the needs of their business demands. We reported, the other day, from reliable authority, that many persons on this coast were being harassed in their business transactions by being unable to get stock killed in Wellington, the meat companies being blocked. It was stated that on a particular day, the date referred to by our informant, that one of the Freezing Companies had 9000 sheep in their yards, though they could kill, only 3000 a day, and that they had 80,000 sheep on the road also. Of course there would be more to follow, but this is an illustration of the block that has taken place. We will suppose that a firm had made arrangements some months ago for the regular dispatch of frozen meat, it can easily be imagined the position, as' to loss that it wou d be putto. Apart however, from this view, we will instance a dealer buying fat sheep to be delivered at certain dates, these he must take up or arrange for their keep, if possible, on the run they were purchased from, at a loss; 1 but as the sellers in anticipation of their removal have purchased sheep to stock up with, it is likely that they cannot, for want of feed, give the accommodation needed. We understand in some cases these sheep are removed and dawdled down to Wellington at an extra expense in driving and at a loss in weight and condition of the sheep. To endeavour to mitigate the/ evil the Wellington companies are sending stock over to Picton, to be frozen for them! If this is so the Wellington companies must be making a serious loss, or else have been making too much profit in the past. No one desires to make a loss, either companies or shareholders, but unless the latter can get their animals killed and frozen when fit, they incur a loss in the proper profits off their run or station. Something needs doing, and doing soon to remove the present unsatisfactory state of affairs. What steps are best and necessary? The answer naturally lies with those who suffer most seriously from what is now occurring, but we venture to think that the remedy lies in the establishment of further freezing works. From the last Official Year Book we find that there were 4,082,416 sheep in the Provincial District of Wellington, and in the whole Colony 19,355,195 sheep. 'The Year Book for 1894 (the latest information on this point) states there were 21 Freezing Works, twelve of which were situated in the North Island and nine in the South Island. In the North Island there were 9,998,173 sheep, and in the South Island 9,357,022. In a rough proportion the North Island has more freezing works per 100,000 sheep than the South Island, but taking into consideration the larger area of grass fattening country in the North Island it would appear that the number is not in excess of requirements. The busin- ss of freezing is a yearly growing one so that a block one year pro-pb-xfi.'s a block the following year

unless steps are taken to ease the position. What is bad this season will be much worse next season, for it has to bo borne in mind that notwithstanding the big drain on the flocks for freezers, the increase in the flocks in the Wellington Provincial District has been over 11,000. In the Wellington Provincial District we reckon there are only four Freezing Works (we stand for correction) being one at Wanganui and at Longburn, and two in Wellington. These four have to contend with the fat stock of this district and from some southern parts, so that there appears room for another works in some convenient position. We consider, looking at the question in a geographical and pecuniary light, that a works at the mouth of the Manawatu river appears to be the most suitable. The Counties around the port, accessible by road and rail, (as four miles of rail added to the present line, over perfectly level country, and calculated to coat some £SOOO would bring the railway to the mouth of the river) contain some 1,6)1,023 febecp, showing a large proportion to the number of sheep (4 052,415) in the whole of the Provincial District.

Everyone desires to benefit the neighbourhood he dwells in, but the statements we are about to make are easily checked by any person of a hostile or doubting mind; „ The ManaWatU river is easily Worked and possesses many advantages which other ports have not. If the new Company desired to work the cargo tramps as is done so successfully at , Wanganui, it is equally possible to do so here. In fact we possess an advantage over Wanganui by having the island of Kapifcl under our lee. Experience has shown that any small steamer or lighter has a rough time of it laying alongside one of these big steamers discharging} and the heavier the roll of the oCean all the worse for the little steamer. Ordinary trading steamers therefore look with little favour on this kind of work, and thus at a press in loading are difficult to get. A mariner who constantly sails the ocean blue and knows every inch of this coast says that the big steamer lie under the lee of Etapiti and steamers from this port, provided the Works were at the mouth of the river, could load and steam to Kapiti and discharge, and return by following tide into port, load and get away on the same tide. There is a regular trader to this port admirably adapted for the trade, all that would be required would be to insulate her bolds. She could carry 2,500 carcases a trip and a little mental arithmetic will show how quickly she could clear the cold store of any moderate sized works. To those who are so seriously placed by this block we earnestly draw attention to the possibilities we have shadowed out, and we feel convinced that the spot indicated for such works cannot be beaten for convenience of access and cheapness of carriage. As coal is very largely consumed in a Freezing Works, we might mention that that mineral could be obtained at the minimum of- cost, and that the port is the handiest and cheapest between the coal ports and this coast, as is shown by the Railway Department having all the coal they consume between Foxton and Marton and Hastings brought to E'oxton.