FROZEN MEAT CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5123, 6 September 1895, Page 3

FROZEN MEAT CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON.

By Telegraph,—Press Itsociti/ioii. Wellington, Thursday, The Frozen Meat Conference opened this morning. Mr D. J. Nathan explained the aim of tho Conference, reiterating the statements published by him in his pamphlet. He belioved there was a great future for the trade, and strongly urged combination here, and concentration at the other end. , For the purpose of bringing about , combination in New Zealand, which Jie considered essential, they would MJpd it necessary to buy up all or a certain number of the present Freezing Companies, and (o find the capital be suggested that a Controlling Board be appointed, and empowered , to levy a sheep rate at 3d per head. ■ A quarter of a million would be raised annually as the tax was paid, : the farmer to receive shares, fully or partially paid up, for tho amount of this payment. By adopting this course the owners of sheep would eventually be the owners of the Freezing Company,which would be of advantage. To avoid the risk of the j Company being madeaspeculativeor j commercial business, he suggested that the sale of shares to non-sheep farmers during the sheep rate be limited to 30 per cent, He had no doubt, if such a company was formed, it would at once save iu freights the sum of £125,000, equal to lid per head ou every sheep in the colony,

so that the sheep rate—from a colonial point of view—would be .paid by tisc saving in freights, and ■allot by the fiirmuis. Other savings be siih in be made, but until farmers am p it he principle of the sheep rate, luo outline of his 6chemo as alreaily published, he thought sufficient, ■ Mr Nathan then moved the resolutions of the Provisional Committee, drawn up some clays ago, and already telegraphed, Mr C. Pbarazyn (in the Chair), said that undoubtedly there were difficulties in the way of the trade, but ho had little doubt that good results would ensue from the deliberations of the Conference. Mr Orbell, in seconding the adoption of the resolutions, said there was a good deal in Mr Nathan's scheme which he did not agree with,

but he admitted that the frozen meat industry, next to that of woolgrowing, was the most important one in New Zealand, He agreed that a Board should bo set up to regulato the supply and demand, If the Freezing Companies federated,

it would not 1)B to the interests of all

parties, as the price of sheep would maintained, They had the best jttheep in the world, and growers should desire to make Colonial muttou known in the Home markets, The meat, however, should not bo rushed into the market, He thought if the Shipping Companies trading with New Zealand.declined to reduce freights, freezers should apply to uomo Companies which he declared would only be too glad to run after them, To his mind, the freight should be

reduced all the year round, instead of being raised from |d to Id at certain periods. Mr Mcintosh, of the Western Farmers' Association, thought little

good would result from taxing sheep. What was wanted, was a Co-opera-tive Association in which sheepgrowers should ho shareholders. They should ignore the middlemen and should deal not only in England hut also on the Continent. The Hon, Mr Fergus, representing the Otago Agricultural Association, and Mr Begg (Dunedin Freezing Company), strongly opposed a sheep tax, and declared that every farmer in Otago ps opposed to it, Later on it was suggested that if Companies in New Zcaerected large cooling chambers, fliey would find if) to he of great advantage. Tq establish a Com: pany such as proposed, would enrage retailers in England. Mr W. Booth said that so far as lie could judge, the Conference would reject the proposed sheep tax and the invitation for Government interference. Mr Bidwill thought that Mr Nathan's scheme was not pltogothor practicable. In reply, Mr Nathan said that from tho tone of the discussion ho thought ho would ask tho Cqnference for permission to withdraw tho ffclioma tic amend' it. Ho bud not advocated Government control, but simply legal power for the establishment of a Controlling Board, They wanted improvement but would not pay for it. They wero all ready to spill the last drop of their brother's blood. If there was sufficientaccommodation for the steamers jfoloittl and take away their cargoes, would bo an immediate reduction in freight, ! llr Nathan's scheme was then withdrawn. ' ! ' 11 " ■ !

On the motion of Mr W. Beetham, * seconded by Mr Chaytyr, hearty Ml?? 'fit thftnto were 'accord'qd' to Messrs Ndtliaif, and' Orbell for tlie . interesting information they had .. given the Conference.. ll l '.?egg'? first resolution, "That in the opinion of this Conference Ijiny attempt,to ostablish & monopoly

of the frozen meat industry of the Colony would be both undesirable and impracticable," was carried unanimously.

The second resolution was thon considered, It was," That in ordor to givo confidence in buyors and to secure, as far as possible, uniformity in quality of tbo meat exported, it is desirable that the freezing companies iu the Colony should agree to a uniform system of grading." After ft discussion upon this question, the Conference at 5,5 p.m. was adjourned until 10 o'clock next morni"g-