CO-OPERATIVE MEAT WORKS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 222, 25 October 1909, Page 4

CO-OPERATIVE MEAT WORKS.

Xo the Editor. Sir,—Local industry and close settlement are the necessary essentials ior the success of any district. Tarauaki in general has certainly made ft step in Hie right direction as regards close settlement, and now the question of local industry forces itself forward, especially with the resources at our command, and it now only awaits our taking advantage of our present opportunity and the demands for our products, which is now world-wide. As a pastoral and agricultural province Taranaki standi second to none, and the fact that we can grow beef, mutton and produce cheaper than any other country is the

great factor of our success, and the great demand there is at the present time for our frozen meat points to the necessity of establishing a freezing works. I would advocate that it he carried out on co-operative lines, and 1 am sure if put before the farmers with the present fund of information that is available it would meet with pronounced success. 1 have just returned from a trip to the Home country, and whilst there I travelled the length and breadth of Great liritain, and I had ample opportunity of witnessing the great demand there is for New Zealand meat. Even at llio de Janeiro, right along-

side the Argentine, we unloaded New Zealand mutton. hi Ireland the butchers complain that tile demand for New Zealand meat is' affecting locallygrown meat. In Scotland the demand exceeds the supply, and when a consignment is landed great showcards proclaim the fact. In England it is superseding the English meat, and the thanks of New Zealanders are due to the High Commissioner and his stall' for the great protection they give to our products in preventing wrongful sales. The deniann is increasing, and owing to the high quality of our meat it is oftentimes sold as English meat, and the fact of it being New Zealand is hidden. My opinion, and my experience in England has proved it, is that our mutton Is sweeter, tenderer, and consequently more palatable than the English-grown meat, and with the efforts of the High Commissioner and his stall' in protecting our interests the demand for New Zealand mutton has become great, which goes to support my contention that the time is ripe for the farmers to establish a freezing works, so that they can get the full value of their products. The German Government is acceding to the demand of the German people, and removing the embargo placed on imported meats. This will mean a great boon to the German people, and also cause a greater demand. It will also mean that the large fleet of the N.D.L. Company will be able to carry frozen mutton on their voyages. Willi the completion of the Stnitford-Onganio line thousands of acres of meat-bearing country will be brought into the export trade,'and there are many other signs tliat; point to the fact that such an establishment as 1 am advocating is much needed. I have no need to point out that with our present experience of co-operation the groundwork of success is already laid. Apart from the byproducts) in the way of manure, which, with our improved conditions of farming, is becoming more needful every day, I am sure the project would mean a great source of wealth to the district. Thousands of pigs are being imported into England from China, and no country in the world is so free as New Zealand from meat disease, and we could supply that article much better and cheaper than China. I am sure, as on all previous occasions when the welfare of the district has been at stake, your hearty co-operation will be assured in this matter. I also feel certain that other pens in the district can write with authority on the subject.—l am, etc., PROGRESS.