The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1898.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 348, 1 October 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1898.

TITE time has again come round when flock-owners will have to face the question of freezing and exporting, in order to relieve the New Zealand markets, and by that means keep the price of sheep up to a reasonable standard. In another column will be found an advertisement of the Auckland Freezing Company, announcing that they arc open to receive applications for freezing and steamer space. The Company has also forwarded a circular to sheep farmers, stating fully the terms upon which they are prepared to do business, and urging upon them the necessity, in order to avoid disappointment or loss, of making early application. The Company has, at great expense, just erected expensive machinery, capable of freezing 1200 sheep per day, with storage for 26,000; in addition, tho machinery is capable of turning out eight tons of ice per 24 hours. The terms on which the Company are prepared to do businessareasfollows.includingall charges from time of receiving the sheep till the rendering of account sales : For summer: Mutton—l 11-16 d ; lamb—l|d per lb ; winter : Mutton—l 3-16 d per lb ; lamb, 1 9-16 u". We may call attention to the fact that the above charges are practically as low as in Canterbury, taking tho number of sheep dealt with into consideration. Last year the Canterbury works froze 800,000, whilst in Aueklaud the total was only 17,000. It is to be hoped during the coming season, for the common benefit, all sheep-owners will freeze a fair proportion of their surplus stock, and lake an equal share of the risks of the London market, in place of, as hitherto, leaving the liability on a few shoulders. In connection with this subject, a resolution passed by the Geraldine Farmers' Club was read at the last meeting of the Waikato Farmers' Club, and referred to a committee. This resolution recommerids that the Freezing Companies shall make it a condition that the meat shall be sold by one or more firms to bo selected.. That a paid Advisory Board be established jn London and another in the colony, find that the necessary funds be raised by the Freezing Companies, making a charge upon all stock frozen, not to eXAQ.ed Ad per sheep and lamb and 6d per heait oi .cattle, and further that the Government b» re/raested to take active measures for the election of cold stores at the London docks. It would unquestionably be an advtistage that all New Zealand mutton should 02 placed in one or two bands, as if this were H.a £g.se the glutting of tho market with New Zealand meat could be avoided. This would not, however, in any degree modify the injury done by the competition of mutton from other countries. The letter does not what are to be the functions of the twQ .advisory Boards. It appears to us that till the one could advise upon is when to ship and when not to ship, and the .o.t,ber when to sell or not to sell, if the brokers selected acted iu concert there \/culd be no necessity for a Board in London ai all, as it is fair to presume that they would b,e ac good judges of the prospects of the market as any possible Board could be. Tug esggAPtjon u$ to cold chambers must reeoriimen.4 f£s,e;i to every mind, as in the ability to bold for a better market and judicious shipping lie the crux of the matter. The impression is strong in the minds of all that New Zealand meat does not get fair treatments London. This opinion is justified to a Hags extent by the fact that one of the leading, firms to whom New Zealand meat was consigned, preferred paying a large sum of money ta pmirtCJPg the books showing their transsc-fros*. If the Advisory Board is to wafcb jthe j brokers and keep them on the .straight path, and are likely to bo capable of fulfilling their mission, by all means is£ it be appointed. The cost would be a *a&aH matter compared with tho gain to the &7,cy Zealand farmers.