CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1708, 11 June 1884, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

STEAMERS FOR FROZEN MEAT,

The following lotter from Mr Charles Phar zyn has been hansel to the New Zealand Times by Mr Wiuu 1 : -"'ln continua'ion of my letter in the New Zealand Times about Mr Eied's steamer, tho following information may bo interesting to the directors of the vaiioua Wellington Moat Companies. I have just heard from the owners tnat tho Elderslieia about to he launched and will bo quite- ready by conttact time, The owners are quite ready and, in fuel, anxious, to build another steamer on tho same teims, or perhaps some modification on thorn which Illicit suit shippers hotter. They will he prepared to offer colonists an interest in the vessels, as in'this way thuy would hope to secure more general carf>o. it is probablo that Ihey may send out some proposal of this kind tliroush Mr Reid, and if so, I hope ic will *,, favorably enter ; mined by those m who are interested in tho iiadu I am taking some shares, The C"st of mwk of this class is now so sm ill in c iHiquenco of the s-'reftt depression in the elding trade that they mo calculatwl t„ p iy a f iir dividend iif they carry notliini! ei hor way beyond the 800 tons of turat conuiieiod for. They are built to carry uimtit 4000 tons (loud weight of general outwards, and probably SGOO in addition to the meat, homewards;also 200 passengers, They will, iliorefore, ho ablo to calculate on all this ns clear profit. All that is wanted is to secure the cargo, and this ouly they would gain by colonists li.ivititr an interest in the vessels. As compared with present charges, the matter would stand about as follows, though it is hoped that by careful storage the rate per lb will be lesa than estimated :

PRESENT (HEROES. Freight and primago ~ 2-1.5.1 Freezing ... ~ .. § [ Storage in London., .. |l Total, a traction over .3d S S ELDKISUE, Freight at outside estiroata If 1 Killing and shipping ~ |d Total .. .. 2d

" Other charges in each case would be the same, bo are not included in above, though I believe Mv Ecid's arrangements include some reductions in general charges. I am convinced that the advantage of not having to move from ships to cold stores will bo considerable, aB biightness of color in meat »b well as some weight are lost by the extra exposure and handling when so stored. Apart from the question of freezing on board, vessels like the Carnatic can of course take the meat from shore freezing works, and probahjy freight mjght in that oase be arranged for at per lb, Probably as so many of these works have been erected, the plan adopted will be to freeze part of cargo on board, and fill up from some of the stores. The time thus saved in New Zealand would thon be available for stowage on board in London, The main point 1 wish to call attention to is the fact that on this plan it is clearly possible to put the meat in the London market at a reduced charge of Id per lb. and this may be admitted, audit will be argued that if this can ba done, it will, as the result of competition, and that wo have only to wait. Against tlm view I would point out that the existing companies havo mado tho mhtako of building far too expensive veasels for the trade, and will therefore, if competition is confined to.them, bo compelled to charge, a rate of freight which will pay dividends on tho capital sunk. " Wish two vessels like the Elderslie, voyages at intervals of three months could bo made qp between the different ports as required. There Is no reason why. part of cargoes should not be taken oven from freezing works at Napier,.'though, she could not probably lio there, to freezo on board. I hope to find that Wellington people are prepared to take up this question, and will not be prevented from doing bo by any consideration of how it may affect existing interests. The essence of all trade is competition, and it is particularly desirable to seoure this in a case where it can be shown that a cheapor plan can be substituted for a more expensive one, I understand Mr Raid's will bo placed iii a pesition to arrange the building of a a jjocomd steamer, so if the matter is taken up in Wellingaon there will be'no.difliculty in settling it without delay. . I write thia for the informatiou of all the Wellington companies, so that copies can be taken to the secretaries,of each, and laid before the directors. ':--"-:...'-"-: : -- t ■--:- '. s -._ ■ "(Signed).' r 6. Pbakazyn, . '"France, April 18,'1884": ': '