WAIKA TO SLAUGIITERING and FREEZING COMPANY.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1591, 14 September 1882, Page 2

WA IKA TO SLA UGIITERING and FREEZING COMPANY.

A meivtixg of the provisional directors of the above company was held at Delaneys hotel, Ohaupo, on Tuesday last. Thcio were present : Messrs llochc, Germann, Rutherford, T. Y. Fitzpatrick, J. Goodfellow, Frazer, Captain Lindsay, and Major Jackson (in the chair). The chairman called upon Mr Roche to read the report of the experiences of his visit to town in company with Mr Fitzpatrick. Mr Roche read the following report :— TO IHI£ CcniMlllhl 01 IHI I'ROPOSLD SL YUGHTERING COMI'VN}. Gentlemen, — We beg to lay before you the result of our mission to Auckland ie the floating of the above-mentioned company. The object of that mission was to procure information on the following heads :—: — First, js to the probability of a wholes-lie meat matket for cuttle slaughtcied m Waikato becoming a success. Secondly, to ascertain the opinions of Auckland merchants on the advisability of procuring free/ing apparatus, Thud, to interview railway authorities >c facilities lor tiansit of meat to Auckland. With repaid to the wholesale establishment alone, we find on enquiiy, the Auckland butchers are \ cry much opposed to it, and would not purchase in a market of the kind, many of them having slaughter-yards of then own, from which they supply the smaller butchers, and the latter class can scarcely be looked upon as sufficiently independent to choose their own market. As to the necessity for refrigerating machinery and chamber, the Auckland merchants are unanimous in their opinion that it would be premature. Theirrcasonsarc : I'irst, tho Waikato would not at the present time be able to supply Auckland with sufficient beet or mutton for consumption if the AVe>t Coast supph ceased. Secondly, there is e\cry probability that this supply will cease in . i very short time, as a refrigerating company has started in AVellington. Thiidly, according to the foregoing facts a company of tluit n.iture "'ill not be required, as producers, would then receive a fair price for their beef. Should however the present state of affairs continue, and the Waikaro settlers feel so disposed, tho Auckland meichants will be prepared to assist in establishing a freezing company for the purpose of exportation, on condition that the settlers on their part can guarantee a sufficient supply ot meat when called upon to do so ; Our interview with the railway authorities was jatisfactory. Every iacility in their power will be given to ensure the safe and speedy transit of meat from Waikato to Auckland. Taking into consideration the result of our enquiries, we do not think it necessary to draw up a prospectus, in accordance with the resolution passed at our last meeting. In conclusion we gather from the ficely expressed opinions ot the consumers, that a retail establishment carried out in such a way as to merit their confidence would receive favourable support ; and we gixc it as our opinion, th.it the scheme first proposed of a slaughtering and butchering company would be preferable to a slaughtering company only. In the event of the West Coast supply being cut off, a company having its slaughtering establishment in Waikato would have the command of all the Waikato beef and mutton, thus ensuring the necessary supply for their own business ; while the money saved in freight and the profits from offal would defray the working expenses. The committee will see the above report is of a limited nature owing to the short space of time at our disposal. H. Rochk. f.V. Ftl/I'AfRICK. Auckland, August 21st., 1882. Mr Roche then gave the opinions expressed by Auckland merchants as to what they thought of the project. The whole were, generally speaking, favourable to the idea, but almost all had different opinions as to the way in which the company should bo carried on, some being of opinion that the meat should be disposed of wholesale, others believing in the retail system, if the company wished to enlist the sympathies of the Auckland public, whilst others were in favour of a freezing chamber being established in Auckland, and the meat shipped Home. All, however, promised to support the company as fay as it was in their power. Mr Roche said, though instructed at last meeting to draw up a prospectus including only tho slaughtering part of the business, Mr Fitzpatrick and himself did not think it advisable, not having got sufficient encouragement as yet to do so. Major Jackson addressed a few remarks to the meeting on the exportation of New Zealand beef and mutton, and more particularly on the object under consideration. New Zealand meat was in great demaud in 'the British navy, "and' the squadron at present stationed in Australian waters were supplied from Auckland, the meat (corned) being shipped from Auckland, to , Sydney, regularly by the mail ' boats. Messrs" Fisher" and' Co. , of Auckland, had had that contract for ' *$ome time. ' From what he could gather, New, JSealand would be supplying^ the whole of the British' navy; before long, so goods a"Bame;,had New Zealand meat

Mr Eoche said the Auckland hotelkeepers generally were paying 4Jd & pound for their meat, and private families were paying 7d for joints, and Btl for steak. He averaged the price butchers got for their meat at 3d a pound. If the company wanted to enlist the sympathies of the people of Auckland they -would have to go into the retail line ; as hotelkeepers and others had told him when in town if they would go into the retail line they would take shares in the company. He himself was averse to the retail business, if they could do without it. Mr Frazer also expressed himself as opposed to the retail business. Mr Steele did not agree with Mr Rfiehe's view of the retail business. What they wauted # was more consumption ; and to secure themselves they would require a freezing chamber in Auckland in which to put their meat after being slaughtered. When the meat was there they could say to the consumers, " You can have it for 20s or 25s a hundred," as the case may be, and if they could not get the required price for it, they could ship it oft" to another market. He had every objection to going in for the retail business. Major Jackson was of opiuion that the price of meat was not too high in Auckland. The consumers were not paying more for their meat than they could afford to pay, according to the rate of wages they were receiving. As the Auckland people were not considering them, he could not see why they should consider the Auckland people. Let them look to the market outside of New Zealand for the disposal of their produce. They should look to the large land owners who owned large tracts of land all over the Waikato and Piako districts ; and those other people in Auckland and elsewhere, who were interested in the security of these large areas of land. If the company raised the price of meat to 25s a cwfc., they would enhance the value of Waikato land fully £2 per acre. If they erected a freezing chamber in town, it did not matter if it never received a single carcase, so long as it raised the price of meat. A freezing chamber would in fact be the company's best and safest insurance against loss ; for if the Auckland market was not suitable they could put their meiit in thez'e and ship it off to a better market. He calculated that Auckland consumed about 250 bullocts and 1000 sheep a week; averaging about 400 bullocks a week. If the company could guarantee 25s a cwt. for meat, it meant £2 more per bullock, which surely should enhance the value of land. Mr Steele was also of opinion that they could depend very little on support from Auckland. Let them look to their own interest as Waikato settlers.Mr Fitzpatrick coincided with the foregoing speakers. Major Jackson remarked that supposing they accumulated 100 head of cattle on their farms, jointly, and then sent the lot home, what would be the result in Auckland ? They would soon experience a rise in the price of meat. Mr Germann then submitted the folfowing figures, which ho had estimated as the working cost of the company :—: — The Cost of Slaiighio vmds in the Waikato. — Huildings and Yards., £!100; steam engine and other machinery, £250; cost of two trucks, £200 ; cost of biding, £200 ; rent for 100 acres of land, £50 ; three hands, £275 ; manager, j £200 ; secretary, £150. Total, £1075. Cost r>/ Fieezing Cliambct. — Buildings, £400; refrigerator, £250 ; engine, £250 ; rent, £100 ; waves, £200. Fatal, £1200. Annual Evfientlituri'. — Interest on permanent outlay.— Waikato, £950, £75 : freezing, £1000, £80 i retail, £100, £8 ; total interest, £163. YV.ukato.— rent, £50 ; wages, £575 ; fuel, £50. Refrigerator.—Rent, £100 ; wages, £200 , fuel, £50. Mr Germann then proposed the following resolution :: — '• That a freezing- company be started with a capital of £50,000 in 50,000 shares of £1 each, one shilling to be paid on application, one shilling on allotment, and one shilling in calls as required at intervals of not less than three months. And in connection with 'the I above to erect slaughter yards at suitable points in the Waikato." The resolution was seconded and adopted. On the motion of Mr Rutherford, Messrs Fitzpatrick, Goodfellow, Steele, Gonnann, aucl Roche were appointed a sub-committee to draw up a prospectus to be submitted to a public meeting to be held in a fortnight. The meeting then terminated.