FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XXX, Issue 5735, 4 June 1896, Page 2

FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

EDITOR.) Sib, — I rend with considerable interest the report in you- paper taken from the " Advocate" of an address given by Mr J. G. Wilson at a meeting convened by him at Fe.ilding on Friday last on the frozen meat trade. I fully expected that tlio subject so all important to the whole colony, but more particularly to this part at the present juncture, would have been handled by him in a masterly, comprehensive and business-like manner, especially when it is remembered that he is one of our distinguished legislators, and also a farmer of no small repute. But I was doomed to disappointment, for he proved by his utterances to be either totally unacquainted with the frozen meat trade, or the scheme he propounds is merely a blind to gull settlers at the present time to quiescence while the Longburn works are at the point of nassing, most probably for ever, out of their grasp. The whole purport of Mr Wilson's addresses the advocacy of the interests of the' present fretting companies operating in the district. It.-is the theme which permeates it throughout and is the trump card of the game. His supposed scheme is only used for the purpose of bluff. Just note his advocacy on their behalf. Firstly—" He did not think the formation of a company to carry on the Longburn Freezing Works would have any permanent beneficial effect, nor did he think the farmers should put themselves in a position antagonistic to the existing companies." Secondly—"With regard to the difference of prices obtained on this coast and in Canterbury," he said, "he did not blame the companies for this, but our system. He believed the companies were dealing fairly with the farmers though it must be admitted that some one was getting a large mcrgin of profit." Thirdly—"With regard to his scheme of co-operation and opening retail shops in the English provincial towns," lie said, "they would, not want a large capital to start in this way if they made use of the existing freezing companies and facilities for shipping." Fourthly—"He thought, ' putting themselves in ft position to trade in tliis way, the meat rings would probably pay no heed to them." I will now deal seriatim with these points in his address to prove my contention that his stump ovations at the present time are merely to advocate the interests of the freezing companies operating in the district. Firstly, he advises that it would not be beneficial for a company composed of settlers to acquire the Longburn Works. Such advice at the present time can only tend to prejudice the sale of the works, which takes place in & few days.

restrict competition, damage any local effort to acquire them, injurt the interests of a large number of settlers who are shareholders and creditors of the Company, and leave the way clear for the other companies to buy them up for the price of an old song; and this sacrifice lias to be made in order to keep chummy with the existing companies. Secondly: with regard to difference in prices paid for stock on this coast and in Canterbury, lie says

" he does not blame the companies for it but our system." Goodness gracious, I would ask him what is our system but an assemblage of the heads of the existing, companies who nrrange', fix and determine values to be given for stock in the district every season, and well they have managed this for many years past to their gain and to the loss of the producers on this coast. Mr Wilson says " he believes the companies were dealing fairly with the farmers." Let the experience of an owner of fat stock in the Shannon district, as published in the Shannon Farmer the other day, be an answer to this. He had tat wethers for sale and was offered 9s per head for them. He refused the price and sent them to Canterbury, where they brought 14s after paying all expenses. I ask Mr Wilson, in the face of this fact are the existing companies giving fair value for fat stock in this district ? Thirdly: With respect to the scheme of co-operation he propounds, it is simply a wild cat one void of business acumen and knowledge of the trade as carried on. To be successful substantial capital would be needed, and the company would require to do its own business from start to finish. To make use of the existing companies and facilities for shipping, as Mr Wilson suggests, would mean handing over to them a substantial picking in the transaction. The existing companies have up-to-date machinery and appliances, yet they charge producers who may freeze on their own account close on one farthing per lb more for freezing and bags tliau do the Christchurcli companies. This means that a producer in this district has to pay, say, on a 601b slieep Is 3d more tlmn if it was frozen by a Canterbury company. Now, under this on the 7,500 Blieep Mr Wilson proposes to deal with under his scheme the 3rst year, there would be paid to existing companies on these £468 15s excess freezing charges, Rnd on his estimate of 224,000 freezers in the district the substantial sum of £14,000 excess. Then they would have their shr.re of pickings from primage, nsurances and freight, etc., which would come to a very considerable item, thus materially reducing the producers' share of the transaction, Fourthly: As to the

_n i __ ... :2=* meat rings likely to piy no heed to t'lioi;- operating on 111 0 CO-npprative principles. It is a very moot point as to lioiv fur the existing companies are interested ill the meat rings, find tliey arc not likely to give any encouragement to a scheme which would in any way detract from the rich harvests tliey are reaping at present off the producers. They have the fiflM ft»» to themselves and it will take amighty effort, backed with solid capital, to wrest from them the commanding power they now have of fixing values on this coast to suit their owrf interests. So far aB I can see,, if the _ Longburn Works pass into the hands of existing companies, settlers will have to fac9 the music and be content with what will be given them for their stock, their only hope for the future being that the Government will step in and regulate the meat trade to the interest of the colony instead olt allowing it to be carried on as at present to its detriment.—l am &c., Betci.br.