FOR THE WELFARE OF MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9588, 7 September 1909, Page 6

FOR THE WELFARE OF MASTERTON.

WHAT LOCAL INDUSTRIES MEAN.

(Contributed). Two projects which are so linked together that fchey must mutually assist each other are now being promoted in the district, viz., freezing works, andthe instituting of fat stock sales, and must it carried out on business lines be of inestimable benefit not only to the large or small stock breeder, but to every property owner and business man in* the community, and be the means of circulating a very large amount of ready money weekly in the ' Borough. In Masterton of late business been none too risk, but perhaps out of such a state of affairs good may eventuate through the stirring up of citizens to a sense of their duty and the absolute necessity to relieve the situation by the establishment of local industries. If these citizens and others who are lethargic, pessimistic, and suffering from sleeping sickness or "taihoa," could only see the marvellous strides and progress that has been made at Petone since the establishment of the Gear Meat Works and the Woollen Mills, they would receive such an object lesson as to what industries will accomplish that they would probably hesitate no longer to take up shares in a local undertaking. It is no exaggeration to say that a large town has been created at Petone, and that Jackson Street is quite as busy as our own Queen Street, and is lined on both sides for almost its whole length with shops and business premises, and on a Saturday will compare more than favourably with this town in regard to the number of people who frequent it. Naturally many individuals look to what dividends they are likely to receive upon their investment in shares. But in the case of the freezing works here that should be a secondary consideration, both with the stock breeder and busi' ness man, for .if no 'dividends were forthcoming *;hey would be more than recompensed indirectly, the tormer by the facilities of dealing with, and the enhanced value to his stock, the business man by the increased volume of trade that would eventuate through the employment nf several hundred workmen whose earnings would filtei into the town. The establishment of a fat stock market would work admirably in conjunction with the meat works, for buyers, and speculators, could if they so desired have their purchases slaughtered and frozen with expedition and at a minimum of trouble, practically on the spot. 'Another advantage which would accrue is that a fat stock market would attract buyers from outside, with a result that competition would ensue ain3 as a consequence the highest ruling market price would be obtained. Local butchers (and they have not been slack in taking shares) would benefit by being relieved of the trouble and expense of driving to the works, or the abbatoirs. as'the case may be, while all offal could be taken to the former, treated and converted into the several kinds of by-products that it is fit for, and if they so de- I

sired they could have their carcases of mutton and beef stored in the cool chambers for so long as they desired. It has been remarked that in canvassing that the smaller business people of the town have been most ready in their response to take up shares, in contra distinction to those individuals (town squatters) who have heaped up riches through the past development, or to use another phrase, from the unearned increment.

Masterton is under the stigma of being a non-progressive town, and it can hardly be said to be a libel to aver that such is the case in some respects, and it is quite time its citizens aroused themselves and banded together about a better state of affairs. The outcome of the public meeting held on Friday evening and the appointment of a canvassing committee, it is satisfactory to note is beaiing good fruit. The canvass of Queen and other streets aroused not only interest, but enthusiasm, among the public, which is evidenced by the very substantial number of shares taken up in a very short time. In conclusion let us hope that all will work in unison and give a long pull and a strong pull for the advancement of Masterton, and not allow a, golden opportunity to slip past, which may never return again.