The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1882. THE FROZEN MEAT QUESTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1020, 21 October 1882, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1882. THE FROZEN MEAT QUESTION.

The two last issues of the Tiraaru Herald contain letters to the editor complaining of the way the paper is neglecting the interests of the community, and asking the editor to “ put his pen in motion” to advocate direct trade with the Mother Country. But the editor has not “ put his pen in motion.” He is too busy abusing the the Government he extolled ad nauseam three months ago, and has neither time nor, evidently, inclination to bother about such petty things as local trade, or local institutions. Who has ever known the Herald to trouble its wise and lugubrious head about local industries, or anything calculated to advance the town ? About a fortnight ago the Chamber of Commerce resolved to make an effort to float a Frozen Meat Company in Timaru, but neither the Herald not its evening contemporary have paid the least attention to the matter since. The proposal is one of the most important that was ever made in South Canterbury, and the local papers that think it beneath the ir notice, are an impediment to progress, and unworthy of support. South Canterbury is undoubtedly the best district in New Zealand, but it is not keeping pace with other districts. It is far behind Oamaru and Ashburton in point of enterprise, and we firmly believe that that apathy, want of enterprise, or whatever it may be. called is due chiefly to the fact that the local papeis have never pointed out to the people the advantages of local industries. One of these papers is given up wholly to abusing public men ; it never has a good word for any local public man, evidently through its ignorance of the fact that it is just as necessary to praise as it is to censure, because praise invariably stimulates men to enterprise. The other paper gives its learning vent in pointless,' abstract inanities of no practical value. If these two papers adopted the plan of urging the necessity of developing local industiies, and of pointing out how absolutely necessary they are to the advancement of the district, they would be more useful than they are to the community. Newspapers should foster public opinion, and stir up the people to local enterprise, but in Timaru the papers are eternally at war with public opinion, and entirely oblivious as to local industries. 'The Shipping Company was formed in Timaru, the Butter and Cheese Factory Company and the Linseed Company in this district, but the Timaru papers paid little or no attention to them, and now the proposed Frozen Meat Company is allowed to sink or swim by them without a word of encouragement. To ue local industries seem the most important subject that we could discuss. Since

we took possession of this paper we have kept the subject before the public ; we urged it in season and out of season, and we are very glad to say that the result has been satisfactory beyond expectation. It may be that we will be told that our advocacy of these institutions had little to do with their establishment, but still that will not alter the fact that previously every attempt that was made to start any industry in this district failed, and thit since we took the subject up everything has succeeded. That one fact shows in our favor at any rate, and we now point it out in the hope that our Timaru contemporaries will realise the advantage of adopting a similar course. As regards the proposed Frozen Meat Company we have frequently pointed out the advantages which might accrue from its establishment. On the 14th of February last we placed the matter before our readers in the following words :—“ We believe that a Frozen Meat Company could find in this district 300 head of cattle and 30,000 sheep per month to export, which means that between £6OOO and £7OOO would come every month into the district,” It is very probable that the number of sheep is over-estimated, but after all there is a large tract of country between the Rangitata and the Waitaki, and a local company could undoubtedly command all that district. We also pointed out that a Tannery, a Soap and Candle Factory, and other industries would, as a matter of course, start up in connection with the meat freezing industry, and that no one could realise what their ultimate value would be. Yery little capital in our opinion is necessary, as it would not be necessary for the Company to buy all the meat they would kill. They could freeze and ship on behalf of owners of stock, and only buy when they wanted to complete a cargo. Under this system the risk would not be great, the profits would be large, and the benefit to the district incalculable. All this we pointed out on the 14th of February last and it pleases us much to see the matter taken up now in Timaru. We do not mean to say that the article wo then published had anything to do with the present movement. All we lay claim to is that we were beforehand with the proposal, and that, as a newspaper ought to do, we have led public opinion instead of being led by it. We have already pointed out tha! an excellent committee of the 'most go-ahead and best business men in Timaru had been formed to make inquiries as to the practicability of starting the industry. We trust they will leave no stone unturned to carry their project to a successful issue, and we think that we can safely promise them every assistance possible from the country districts. The farmers we know are most anxious to see the industry started, and if it comes to shares being offered we have no doubt but that they will be taken up. The Committee may rest assured of the support of this paper, and we think we may safely promise the support of the great majority of its readers.

THE PROSPECTS OF THE WOOL SEASON. ' Ik our issue- of Monday last we drew attention to a telegram from Melbourne, stating that a great many foreign buyers were expected to be present at the wool sales there, and expressed an opinion that these buyers had left the London Market and had come to the Colony for the purpose of buying wool at headquarters. Of course, this was only a surmise on our part, but it would appear from the following telegram? since received that we were not far out :

Melbourne, Oct. 18

Messrs Goldsborough and Co. (Limited) held their opening wool sale for the present season to-day. There was a crowded attendance of English, Scotch, Continental buyers, in addition to those from various Australian colonies. The bidding was active and competition very brisk, the prices realised being very satisfactory. The catalogue comprised 1100 bales.

Oct. 19

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company (Limited) held their opening wool sale for the season to-day. The catalogue was a fairly representative one. The attendance at the sale was very large, and representatives from all parts of Europe and America were in greater numbers than at any previous sales. The bidding was animated and brisk competition was experienced, nearly every lot on the catalogue being sold. A general advance of fully one penny per lb was obtained for sound, well-grown wools of all classes. The highest price realised foi'Egreasy merino was Is for greasy cross-bred Is, and for scoured merino Is lOfd. Recent Home telegrams informed us that there was a depression in the London market owing to the abgencc

of foreign buyers, and it now strikes us that these have come to the colonies to buy wool. This is good news for wool producers. Already it has had the effect of raising the price by one penny per pound, and doubtless it will increase mere as the season advances. The wool clip of Victoria, blew South Wales, and Adelaide is said to be much below the average this year, and this of course, will increase the value of it. The clip in this colony is expected to be unusually good this year, and as the prices will no doubt be satisfactory we anticipate an unusually good season for wool growers. There is one thing, however, which we desire to call attention to. Why does the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company hold their wool sales in Melbourne instead of some town in New Zealand. They profess to be essentially a New Zealand Company, and they should act up to that profession by making New Zealand their headquarters, and inducing these foreign buyers to come to New Zealand markets ? This would be a great advantage to colonists, as in that case the expenses incidental to shipping the wool to the London markets would be saved to them. But no doubt when the wool season begins properly this will be done, and the foreign buyers will also visit New Zealand.