FROZEN MEAT INDUSTRY.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1064, 25 July 1883, Page 2

FROZEN MEAT INDUSTRY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I see in to-night’s issue of your paper, a telegram from the Wellington Refrigerating Company stating that they are willing to start operations here, provided the settlers will subscribe the necessary capital viz, £4,000. Now, sir, I do not consider this a very liberal offer, for, if the settlers of this district can raise enough money to erect refrigerating works here I cannot see why they should hand it over to a Wellington Company to spend for them. It would be much better if the settlers would form a company here, which could co-operate with Wellington in shipping the meat Home. I feel confident that the Pa tea S.S. Company (which’has never been wanting in enterprise) would put refrigerating machinery in their boat if part of the cost, say half, were borne by the Refrigerating Company. . It is high time the settlers bestired themselves ; they have the grandest grazing district in the Colony, and all that is wanted to make it the richest, is for them to put their hands in their pockets, and start the frozen meat industry here ; let us take example from the Auckland people who, although they have tp import over 50,000 sheep, and several thousand head of cattle annually for their own consumption, have the enterprise to go in for a meat export company, with a capital of £150,000. If the settlers do not go in for something of this kind they will not reap the slightest benefit from either the Wellington or Auckland companies, as it is impossible to ship live stock to either of these places, and have them fit for the English market. Apologising for having taken up so much of your valuable space.—l am, &c, Progress. Patea, July 23.