The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, July 30, 1912. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1076, 30 July 1912, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, July 30, 19 1 2. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Nominations lor the vacancy on the Borough Council, caused by the retirement ot Cr W. >S. Carter, closed on Saturday and only one nomination was handed in. It is matter for regret that ratepayers are so apalbelie. What is vviong with the men who have so much at stake in the town that they refuse to take a share in the ad minisliativealfaiis of the borough ? At the present time we are entering upon a very critical period and it appears that many ol 0111 prominent citizens are content to let borough affaiis go hang. I D .me we have some capable men in the Council, but dynamic force is wanting. There are problems, which require immediate and caielul consideration by every individual member ot the Council and recent events call tor immediate activity, i'he down Clerk is capable of attending to all formal and routine business, but we look to Councillors to initiate and give a lead in other directions. The duly ot a Councillor does not begin and end by devoting an hour or two to ordinary and special meetings. It requires a portion ot time aud mentality equally with his own affairs tor without sacrifice and eu thusiasm on the part of our trustees, Boston cannot do other than mark time. The town has been hit bard and business dislocated by recent conflagrations, but this should inspire the Council to take such steps as will make it impossible for such calamity to over-

take us in the future. Another matter of vital importance to the borough and of national interest is the linking up of the Main Trunk Line between Levin and Martou or Greatford. This does not involve the borough in expense, and Foxtou is in the position to play a leading parr in this movement. Our apathy and indifference may clog the wheels of progress, it is possible lor Foxtou to make itseli heard to good effect in this connection. Then, again, it can stand shoulder to shoulder with the Harbour Board in its tight for retorm. These matters may seem at first blush to be outside the scope of municipal affairs, but Foxton’s future prosperity depends to a very large extent upon the development of these schemes and in order to bring about their consummation it is the duty of our Council to broaden its outlook beyond the necessary parish pump and Foxtou must shake off its lethargy and get a move on.

What might be described as the romantic story of one of the most important of colonial industries is told iu au iuterestiug mauuer in a work entitled “A History of tne Frozen Meat Trade,” which has just* been published. The inventor of tne first refrigerating plant, it appears, was James Harrison, one time editor ot the Melbourne Age. To Thomas Sutcliffe Mort, however, belongs the honour of having established the first freezing works (which were erected at Darling Harbour) in the world. Since the days when these wonderlui discoveries were made over fifty years have now gone by- On many occasions Mr Mort, it is recalled. indicated his firm belief not only iu the feasibility of the undertaking, but also iu the necessity tor such au industry. It was, lor instance, at a memorable gathering iu Sydney some 37 years ago that he said : ‘T feel, as I have always felt, that there is no work on the world’s carpet greater than this in which I am engaged. Yes, gentlemen, I now say that the time has arrived —at all events, is not far distant —when the various portions of the earth will each give forth their products for the use of each and all ; that the oyer-abundance of one country will make up for the deficiency of another ; the super-abundance of the year of plenty serving for the scant harvest of its successor; for cold arrests all change. Science has drawn aside the veil, and the plan stands revealed. Faraday’s magic hand gave tne keynote, and invention has done the rest. Climate, seasons, plenty, scarcity, distance will all shake hands and out of the commingling will come enough for all, tor ‘the earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof,' and it certainly lies within the compass of man to ensure that all His people shall # bo partakers of that fulness. God provides enough and to spare for every creature. He sends into the world ; but the conditions are not often in accord. Where the food is the people are not. It is, however, as I have just stated, withiu the powers of man to adjust these things, and I hope you will all join with me in believing that the first great deed is iu that which you yourselves have this day been partakers of aud witnesses.” Viewed, in the light of succeediug events, this prophetic vision is assuredly being amply fulfilled. But a great deal, ot course, yet remains to be done. ’ What is most needed iu those countries to which trozeu meat is exported is a much better .system of advertising aud distribution. As far as some other countries are concerned, Customs barriers have yet to broken down before business relations can be established. In this regard it is gratifying to note that the authors ot the work hold ” that at no stage of the history of the trade have its prospects as to new outlets shown such a tendency to widen as at the present moment.” Significantly it is asked: “ Why should the Parisians have to eat 50,000 horses a year ? ” Whether the inroads which the trusts have made iu connection with the industry, especially in Smithfield, will prove detrimental must also be closely studied. This work — which it must also be admitted contains some observations which may not be generally accepted closes, it is interesting to note, with a stirring appeal to the colonies to develop the chilled beef trade. ‘‘There is 110 reason,” it is slated, “why Australasian chilled beef should not cross the ocean aud enter into competition with that trom South America. Until Australia aud New Zealand lake up this trade, oue may say that the various interests composing the export meat trade there have fallen short of the full development ut the industry.”