AGRICULTURAL DISABILITIES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1857, 31 May 1884, Page 3

AGRICULTURAL DISABILITIES.

TO THK KDITOR. Sir, — You confer a favour on your farming friends by your able and independent advocacy of various matters which you regard as likely to benefit them. I see that j'ou concur with the opinion that months ago I expressed in one of your papers, that there are too many interested to keep things as they are influential in 'the management of the Frozen Meat and Stotage Company, and their purpose seems theiefore to be " how not to do it." First the Waikato Frozen Meat Company was strangled, then the fine mutton. &c , sent by the Mataura was rotted for us, and no satisfactory explanation of the cause, and lastly, a big speculation in making town sections by reclaiming from the harbour of Auckland is being tardily proceeded with under the pretence that frozen meat works are being prepared to relieve agricultural depression by securing an unlimited and fairly remunerative export market for our staple pastoral products, all the time farmers being more and more impoverished by selling thi'se at less than they cost, and paying enormous and increased railway freights and heavy t.nifTs for commission, ke, while middlemen and butchers more than double the pi ice for their small share in the transaction, which the public have to pay for the meat. This also restricts the local consumption, and all the time the country districts are being ruined by " farming not paying." The people of Auckland may rejoice to dwell amidst such evidences of progress as their city presents, but if they ignore the welfare of the country settler they may find their prosperity evanescent, and regret sinking so much borrowed money in brick and mortar in Auckland. What then will become of the jubilant stereotypes of a section of the city Press ? I have never heard why the vicinity of the chief sewage outlet of the city of Auckland should be peculiarly suited for preserving butchers' meat and butter for export. Some of us inexperienced farmers would naturally have thought the pure air of the country where these are produced would have been more likely to aid to satisfactory results, and, without having to leclaim from the dominion of the dead cats and docs and filth of Auckland, land could have been got ready and most suitably situated to have had the works, or a branch of them, erected and in operation months ago, and we would not have had to sell beef or mutton to net us only lsd per lb, and fine steamers need not have left Auckland in b-ilhst. Even now a fieczing factory (the name factory seems in the fashion for the present) could be erected quickly and at small cost in Waikato, and the meat could be sent by night trains to load steamers at far less cost and with far less chances of injury than by sending the live stock, and with no depreciation, for the stock could have grass paddocks in Waikato where the society to prevent cruelty to animals could have no call to interfere ; and, besides, at the farthest one day's drive would take even sheep to the "factory." All the manure and refuse would also remain in the district to be refined into more beef and mutton by the medium of turnips. This brings me to your articles on rotation of crops and the profits of wheat growing, about which I may have time to say something in a future issue. Also, about the railway tariff and the statesman-like policy by which the Gm eminent have come font aid to lelicve the country settlers in then depiession of somc^of their superabundant cash. I would only say now that out of all the thousand and one ways that Ministers have fooled away the borrowed millions, railways show really some worth for the money. Why should they alone be expected to pay full interest on cost ? What about Ministers' and Governors' palaces, Parliamentary edifices and furniture, State yachts that often were to have been sold and were not, native lands paid for, surveyed and made accessable by borrowed money, and the proceeds of what of it that was not unsaleable converted into revenue? Why don't they raise the price of those unsaleable Crown lands and get more revenue ? Possibly these will be kept for nationalisation or some other improved tenure. I might refer to other " white elephants," abandoned waterraces and sludge channels in the South and West, "big pumps," but "tantum sufficet." — I am, &c, Wm. Akchd. Morkay. Piako, May 29, 18S4.

Db Moeitz Btiscu's book on PrincJe Bismarck iv its English form, as translate d "by Mr Beatty Kingston, has been published by Messrs Macmillan and Co., Lord Lobne has written an article for one of the monthly reviews on the question of establishing provincial, as distin-, £>vis ed from national, Home Rule in Ireland. Yes !It is certainly true. Ask any/of your friends who have purchased there. Garlick an.l Cranweß have nurrier'oujS Unasked for and' very favourable cbmmenfiations ~frora country customers on < their excellent packing of Furniture, Crocker)*, and Glass, &c. Ladies arid gentlcn en about to furnish should remember ("that KGaVUck^ and iy 'Crsn well's, > is; thb Cheap Furnishing' Warehouse of Attck-' land. Furniture to , t suit all clavec ; also Carpets, Floor 'Cloths and' all Housei Nocei- ' t aries. If your new house is nearly finiibed, or, you are (?oing to get married, visit .G,»rlick and , Cran.wel), Queen-street.and Lome- street, Auckland. Intending purchasers can hay« a ciitsjog'ui siontfroo. . 'r'*- -"''