The PROPOSED BUTCHERING AND SLAUGHTERING COMPANY.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1576, 10 August 1882, Page 2

The PROPOSED BUTCHERING AND SLAUGHTERING COMPANY.

The fiist meeting of the committee appointed to arrange the preliminary business of the above company was held at Delaneys Hotel, Ohaupo, on Tuesday last. There wore present : Messrs Rutherford, Samuel Steele, Germann, Soccombo, Hodgson, T. Y. Fitzpatrick, Fmscr, Jno. Scott, Limmer, and Roche. Mr Gcimaim was votud to the clicaii\ — The following paper from Major Wilson, of Cambridge, was laid on the table :—: — A trial was made on the Great Western Railway of .1 new meat van const) acted on Captain Acklon's patent, for carrying safely meat in all temperatures. Ihe punciple involved in the new patent is that of excluding- the dust and the sun's rays, while the temperature of the vj.n within is kept cool b> a system of evaporation going on constantly around it. Thi* result is effected by constructing the sides and the top ot the van ot felt, sti etched upon its open fiamework, and kept m their place by panels of netwoik. The inner panel ol the walls is ol fair mesh, and is backed immediately by a double layer of dry and inodorous felt. Outside there arc two more layers of the same material, which are to be kept moist foi the purpose ot evaporation, and the whol&is faced with a second network panelling of wider mesh than that already mentioned Iholaver of lelt which forms the ceiling of the v^in is separated by s.n open space of a lew inches from the arched outer top of the wagon itself, and thiough this space the air passes freely in a rapid cunent as the tiain moves along. Ihe piocess of piepauntr the van toi use is as follows. — An attendant, standing at one end of it, works the handle of a pump attached to the end beams, and communicating with a tank underneath the van. The water is forced up thiough a tube, and finds its way into a galvanised gutter ot reservoir which runs round the whole top of the van immediately above the outer layer of felt. This layer is actually dipped into the reservoir in question, so that the whole weight of water in it rests directly on the felt, and thus by its own weight percolates through it down the outside walls ot the van. Ai rived at the bottom it is conducted back to the tank underneath, whence it can be again pumped to go through the same process. The action of the sun or waim atmosphere upon the outer covering of wet felt will produce a continual cvapot.ttion, which is expected to keep the tempcratuie ot the interior several degtecs lower than that of the sunounding aii. A letter was also read from Mr J. A. Douglas, Tamahere, bearing on the object of the proposed conjpany, and making some valuable suggestions as to the working of other industries in connection with the butchering and slaughtering. If a freezing factory were started in town to freeze the meat when sent down there, they could make ico tor the Auckland market as well as supply it with beef. Mr Steele proposed appointing a subcommittee to proceed to town and make the necessary enquiries as to the support the company was likely to get, and also how the scheme could be worked most economically. This would simplify matters very much, and give them something to go upon. There were several ways in which they could dispose of their meat. They conld slaughter in TVaikato, and supply the retail butchers in Auckland, who would thus be benefited, inasmuch as they would have no slaughterhouse to keep up, no license to pay, and would, he believed, indirectly benefit in many other ways, But supposing the butchers combined againgt them, and refused to take their beef, they could also open retail shops „ and have competition. However, he believed it would be much better for the company if they could dispose of their beef to the retail dealers instead of competing against them. — Mr Fitzpatrick also took view of the matter. — Mr Rutherford could not see why they should not bo rewarded with success, even if they were obliged to compete in the retail market. He^would in-, stance the success which had attended the efforts of two men in floating the company now,known as Ksh.er and Co., ;in Auckland.— Mr Roche thought they ought to make provision in case, the retailers refuse to take their meat. They j-fhoiild therefore,' in cSse their beef was .boycotted by the butchers when it -went to > Auckland, have a' freezing-chamber 7 ready' to- pttt 'it in, and-, thendispose of' ifc at' the * first Opportunity, ov- they could ' export it if ! any facility existed for' doing so. — Mr 'Rutherford thoughfcj6lie cost' of a freezing establishment/.putl-jtjiat" bransb. of .the^ business beyond'all consideration. From wHatshe had- readme Jbe.ljeyed, a freezing ejsfabfishment'/' Complete would cost. jil^OOO^^ln^epl^^/iujestion ,by Mr, producers, ""

5 v ' ,**, t would benefitfjboth by getting a bettor price for their cattle, and by sharing in the profits of the concern. Mr Roche then read a draught prospectus which Lad been drawn up by a few of the committee, and which he believed would meet the views of the meeting. — Mr Fitzpatrick thought the company should be started on as moderate, and us comprehensive a footing as possible, for by trying to achieve too much they might defeat their own .ends and achieve nothing whatever. As an example he would instance the non-success , of the Waikato Farmers' Co-operative Association, which might be said to have been- stifled; by endeavouring to grasp too much! Before they issued a prospectus they^ should be able to state definitely' what they were going to do, and where the scene of operations was likely to be fixed. He believed £10,000 -would be required, and no less an amount should be named on the prospectus, for if they found it necessary in future to increase the capital additional expense- and trouble would have to be incurred. — Mr Roche said he had received a number of letters from Auckland which conveyed great encouragement, promising co-operation and support. ■ He believed a large number of Auckland merchants would take shares in the company, and by having these gentlemen as shareholders they could exert themselves to secure a good market for the meat. It was best he believed to, only go in for the slaughtering and butchering of cattle at first, and then when the industry was well established and fairly advanced they could open minor industries in connection with it. — Mr Steele then proposed the following resolution :— That the Waikato Butchering and Slaughtering Company be started with a capital of £20,000 in £1 shares ; 2s on application ; Is on allotment, and Is for subsequent calls, when required, at not more than three months interval." — Seconded by Mr Fitzpatrick and cairied. — Mr Fitzpatrick advocated the chosiug of a site for the slaughtering factory before bringing their scheme before the public. — Mr Steele suggested they should advertise for a suitable site to be on the line of rail between Te Awamutu and Ngaruawahia, and having a plentiful supply of water and other necessary conveniences. — Mr Germann thought Ohaupo, considering its central position and other features, would be the most convenient place and most central for the site of the establishment. All the cattle at present shipped to the Auckland market were shipped from Ohaupo. — Mr Fitzpatrick thought they would have to consider the people who sent cattle from Matamata, riako, Cambridge, Hamilton, and from the Raglan district. — On the motion of Mr Steele it was then agreed to advertise for a suitable site on the railway line between Ngaruawalua and Te Awamutu. — The following gentlemen were then named as provisional directors, and it was resolved to ask them to act :— Messrs G. E. Clarke, S. S. Graham, Jno. Fisher, Sam. Steole, Seccombe, T. Goodfellow, H. Roche, Fraser, Rutherford, Ell wards, Touks, Hurst, L. D. Nathan, Gane, T. Morrin, Firth, J. A. Douglas, Brettargh, and Captains Lindsay and Steele. — Mr Roche advocated fixing the price the farmers were to .get for their meat at certain seasons of'^the year, say from January to March, so much per head for every beast. Then for May and July the price could be altered, and so on till the end of the year. Of course they would regulate their prices by market quotations. He believed the Auckland retailer could buy the meat cheaper from the company than at present, and the farmer would be able all the year round to get 30s for his beei. — Mr Fraser was afraid Mr Roche would not be conducting the affairs of the company on commercial principles if lie were to fix the price the farmers would get for their cattle during certain seasons of the year. The company might according to that be giving the farmer more for his beef than they would get at the market. — 'The meeting then expressed themselves in favour of the slaughtering only, and not butchering. The producer, who of course would be a shareholder, could then come to the company and say : Here slaughter my cattle, send the beef to town, and put it in the market ; take your commission on the transaction, and give me the balance. They would then have none of the petty troubles of butchering to contend with, and if the butchers would not buy their beef, it could bo auctioned, and hotel-keepers, boarding-house-keepers and stewards of ships would buy it. Again, a company s>uch as this would not require such an outlay.—Mr Liimner recommended that they should charter a vessel with freezing appiratus complete, and if the results were favorable they could in future dispose of their produce in this way. —On the motion of Mr Rutherford it was < unanimously agreed that Messrs Roche and Fitzpatrick should proceed to Auckland to make the necessary enquiries as to probable support, and to ascertain the opinions of retail butchers, also to find the best site for a freezing establishment. — On the motion of Mr Limmer it was also agreed that Messrs Fitzpatrick, Fraser and Roche be requested to draw up a prospectus giving the experiences of the two gentleman deputed to proceed to Auckland, and other matters in connection with the company, the same to be submitted to a public meeting in a fortnight. — This terminated the meeting.