The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1858, 3 June 1884, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever st.ile or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawed In influence and unbrihcd by gain.

' TUESDA r, JUNE 3, 1884.

Tin: North New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association is no longer a were project. It has entered upon the field of its operations, and though no manager lias yet been appointed, nor may he be for some little time, the business of the association will be carried on by the managing directors in Waikato and in Auckland. The first meeting of the directors, which was a protracted one, was in a great measure occupied with a discussion as to the more immediate field of operations which should occupy the attention of the association, and we think that a wise re olution was come to that the management should devote its earliest efforts to grappling with one or two of the principal objects, and notably amongst thcsT the meat trade. The general business of the association will grow of itself, and needs no foicing. It will, indeed, be safer and better that it should thus gradually develop itself. But the work of the association has a wider r.uige than the mere supply of general produce and all other mercantile commodities to the consumer at a cost freed from the imposts of the middleman. It was formed in the interests of the AVaikato firmers, and its primary objecc was to place the agricultural welfare of this district upon a sound and healthy basis. This is a fundamental principle in the working of the association which must not be lost sight of, and we are therefore glad to see that the question of the sale of meat has been fixed upon as one of the very first to be undertaken. It is one which will more readily and directly benefit the consumer than any other, and one \\ Inch, if carried out on a broad and businesslike basis, will at once galvanise the farming interests into life. Almost two years ago the project of slaughtering and freezing was taken up by the Waikato settlers, and wont the- length of the appointment of a provisional directorate to float the scheme, but j'artly from the cold, water thrown upon it by certain interested jnirtios in the trade in Auckland, and partly from local jealousies and. want of an efficient canvass by tho provisional directors heie, tho project fell through. The necessity for such an undertaking, however, when freezing edin and Wellington, and tho inability of the local farming interests to secure a profitable market for their moat, were facts too patent to bo blinked. The Auckland Meat Freezing Company was initiated, but tho words of promise spoken to the ear were broken to tho heart. The very men who pooh-poohed tho idea of Waikato helping itself — who wore interested that it should not do so — became the controllers of the new company, and having satisfied public opinion by a grand flourish of trumpets at its inauguration quietly laid it on the shelf. What need for them to export meat when they could make cent, per cent, out of the unfortunate grazier on all fhat was locally produced ? Better to circumscribe, us they have so effectually done, tho meat producing industry, so long 1 as it continued to supply sufficient for home consumption, and keep so profitable, though a smaller, trade in their hands, than run any risk of diminution of profits in opening up an export trade, the eii'ects of which would have been more generally beneficial to all concerned. Thus the farming interest was sacrificed, as it has always been, to the greed of the middlemen. Will the co-operative association step forward and rescue us from this state of tilings ? It was for such a work it was established, but, if it is to succeed there must be no looking back when it has once put its hand to the plough ; no paltering with half measures, but a thorough, radical reform must be carried out. A committee consisting of Messrs Graham, Bell, Gillett, and Heather was appointed at the late meeting of directors to consult with Mr Salmon, of Auckland, on the steps to be taken in establishing a wholesale and l'etail business in meat in uhat city. We are not in a position to know the intentions of such committee, but take this early opportunity of pointing out that no better opportunity exists than the present for carrying out the wishes of the Waikato farmers of nearly tw o years ago in the establishment of slaughterhouses in some central position in Waikato, and of a depot in Auckland for receiving the meat. What the farmers were unable then to carry out may be now undertaken by the association. The cost is within their means, the profits of such a business would bo large, and thebenefitsto producer and consumer very great. Mr Jolly has liberally granted a site contiguous to the railway line at Frankton for tho association's central stores in Waikato, and doubtless a sufficiency of land for slaughter yards and the necessary grazing paddock could also be procured from him on easy terms. It has been shown in these columns so often, that, we need scarcely reproduce the arguments made use of, that if meat is to be sent down from Waikato to Auckland in first class condition, it must

— s r be slaughtered lijite, and sent in pfo^vriy <;^p]repSto(il >, cooling carriages by night train. s The association if it; goes into the meat trach must have slaughter-houses of its own, must he entirely independent in its operations, and there are many obvious reasons why for profit and- convenience such an establishment should be here upon the spot. Nor need they fear the cost, or the result." They have a large and profitable trade before them. According to Mr Banks himself, Auckland a year and a half ago (and the consumption is daily increasing) consumed 250 bullocks and 1000 sheep per week, of which 90 head of cattle came from Waikato. Possib'y since then Waikato may supply a smaller proportion, for with the fall in the price of beef our farmers have turned their attention to other productions, but once establish a profi table market for meat and the local supply would quickly r.se till Waikato alone would be able to meet the entire demands of the Auckland market. At the time the slaughtering company was agitated for in Waikato it was shown that the actual cost of buildings, plant, ifcc, including £1000 for hand, would not exceed some £2500, and that the company would not need to call up at the very most more ( than £5000 of its capital, so that such a project is quite as much a part of the legitimate function of the co-operative association as it is within its means. On the other hand, the profits to shareholders would be very great, independent of theindirect benefits of givingcheaper meal to the general consumer and a higher price to the farmer for his beef. The association could afford to give, say, 20s per lOOlbs for beef all the year lound, and yet retail the same at an average of 3d per lb, for the profits would come out of the slaughtering business. When a single butchering firm in Auckland, and we could give the name, have averaged £500 a month as the value of the offal in connection with, their business, our readers and the association may form some idea of ■« hat could be done in this one item in so large a business as that -which we propose should be established in "Waikato. Space will not on the present occasion allow us to advance in detail a. tithe of the arguments by which it may bo shown not only how feasiblo but how necessary is the project we have now suggested. In the meantime we commend the matter to the earnest consideration of the association and of the public, and invito discussion upon it.' We shall at an early opportunity re-enter upon the merits of a scheme which, wo feel assured, lias in itself all the elements of a grand success, and us indeed necessary to the successful carrying out of any involution in the moat trade, which shall place grazing in this district on a profitable footing.

The frosts which have been experienced during the last; few nights have been \eryscveie. Yesterday morning the thermometer registered 1!)' Fahr.

Operations at the Waikato Cheese Factory cea^ed.for tlio on SatnrHnv last, tlio supply n! milk, owing to the cold weather, having fallen to about 100 gallons.

Football promises to remain m the background in the Cambridge district thw season, several successive attempes to reorganise the club having 1 failed.

A concert in aid of the widow and family of the late Mr James McUrath will be given at the Ohaupo school-room on Fiiday evening ne\t. A good programme has been arianged, and the entertainment will conclude with a d.vice.

The North New Zealand Farmers' Co operative Association have leased the .store formerly occupied by Mr N. R. Cox, at the corner of Victoria and Hood streets, Hamilton, and have removed their offices thither. The building is admirably adapted for the purposes of the association, have ample storage accommodation and spacious office room.

By the English mail yesterday we received a copy of "The Pictorial World," of April 17th, containing an excellent portrait of Mr R. Laishley, jun., of Auckland. The portrait is accompanied by a biographical sketch chiefly relating to _Mr Lai^hley's connection with Educational matters, and having leferenceto lm present mission to Europe.

The Rev. H. R. Dewsbury's lecture on " Sir Walter Scott " will be delivered in the Wesleyan Church, Cambridge \Ve-,t, on Friday evening. The popularity of the lecturer, and the deserving nature of the obiect cannot fail to bring together a. vpry large audience. The same lecture was delivered in Cambridge about two years agn, and was very much appreciated.

The shareholders of the Co-opera-tive Association in the Cambridge district have invited the Waikato manager, Mr Gillett, to meet them in McCrea's Hall at Cambridge next Satvu-day for the purpose of making known their requirements, and offering some Fiiggebtions as to the woikingof the association. The meeting promises to be largely attended, and the proceedings cannot fail to be of an interesting character to all concerned. The Cambiidge settlers aie evidently betraying great interest in the association .and its object, and so far as we can ascertain, much beneficial information will be adduced at Saturday's meeting.

The mail steamer City of Sydney from San Francisco, with the English and American mails arrived at Auckland on Sunday afternoon. In another column we give a few items from our mail exchanges. The following is a libt of the steamer's pasBBngcrs for Auckland : — Cabin : Mrs Haslett and daughter, Messrs Win. Kennedy, Duncan, 1). Luciani, Mrs T. A. Dudoit, Master W. E. Kennedy. Steerage : H. Friedlander, Charles Homberg, John Jackson, J. Wash, C. O. Anderson, Thomas M. Young, John Cruickshank, E. Newby, Wm. Gardiner, James Bouse, James Neil, J. E. Doyle, John Knox, A. Aldrich, A. Metcalf, B. Keelan.

The contractor, Mr Kerr, has commenced the carrying out of the drainage scheme at the Lake, Cambridge, and expects to have the job completed in a few weeks' time. A lot of private opposition is offered the carrying out of this scheme, as it is generally asserted that it will make the Lake a mere gigantic cesspool for the upper portion of the town. Though we do not think it will prove altogether so bad as this, still the mere fact of draining surface water into the Lake will make it altogether unfit for fish, and we think as it is the only sheet of water of the kind in the district, it is very desirable that its usefulness in this respect should not be lessened.

The improvements to the Cambridge Public Hall are now being carried out. The doors have been made to open outward instead of as before This will ensure an unimpeded exit in case of fire. The bad places in the floor have been repaired, and several other little wants attended to. Should our members be successful during the coming session in obtaining an alteration of the Town Districts Act in respact to the number of vote* necessary to carry a proposal to. borrow, another attempt will made to raise the loan fop the purposes of improving the hall and readincr-i'oom.

Mr Dennis Hickey, the" Italiian gentleman , referred to in our article in Saturday's issue describing the 1 sensational j occurrence, at Cambridge, in Major Green was a prominent figure, has expressed bis intention of < 'coraingaQwa s 'pnfchoM*for I

for damages alleged to have been sustained in carrying out what he cousiderathedegrad-"" ing duties of bailiff. WAe expresses his regret that we shoufiffhave been so " unthoughtful" as to make public his name in connection ''with such' a disgraceful affair, and bolieyoa the effect, will be ruin to hia reputation in Wa'ikato. <Ho considers Major (ireen'a Oifer of a pound a totally inadequate comn'enhation for what he suffered while in her Majesty's service on Friday last. "•

A correspondent writes from Raglan :— Our county chairman, who leaves no stone unturned to do. what he can for the district, has just received a letter' from the Hon. Minister for Public Works, apolojising for the fact that he could not find time to pay a visit to the district on his last visit to Waikato. Our member., he sayH, w.ia also vory anxious that he should do so, but he will try and find an J oppmtunity to do so when ho comes t» Waikato again. .. • *

The poll taken on Saturday to detei mine whether the Borough Council of Hamilton should borrow £500 for the purpose of liquidating the existing liabilities on tho Public Hull, and fit it for the purpose of council chamber aud library, resulted in tho rejection of the proposal. The act requires that the number of votes polled in favour of such a proposal shall equal in number half the ratepayers on the roll. The latter numbered 22(5, and it was therefore necessary that 114 votes should be recorded befoie the proposal could be carried. Tho poll on Saturday resulted as follows :— For the proposal, 90 ; against, 22. Thus, though a large majority of the ratepayers are clearly in favour of borrowing the money, by the impossibility ofgcttingasuffii cient number to vote, many being absentees, the desire of the majority cannot be given effect to.

It certainly seems absurd (writes the European Mail) -that our sailors 'on board the largo ocean-going ships plying between England and the Australasian colonies should be condemned to eat ,salt provisions when wholesome fresh meat, is within their reach, and can bo supplied at an equally cheap rate. The regulations of the Board of Trade aie, however,;^ so stringent that no shipowner or captain would venture to make the change without authorisation, and to obtain this much zeal and great persistence has been required. To the Orient Coin pan}', according to the Lancet, belongs the credit of per&u.iding the Board of Trade to allow the experiment to be tried, and our contemporary understands tfiat as soon as the nece->«ary airangemants can be made, b.>th the sailors and tho emigrants on board the vesbeK of this line will be supplied throughout tho voyage with fresh meat equal in weight to tho salt junk now berved out. This is a mcbt liberal provision, since, of couise, the new scale represents an increase of 22 per cent, of fre«h moat in lieu of thnt quantity of fait which was added to the pickled pork and beef. The effect of this innovation on the health of our seauien, if generally adopted by the mercantile marine, will be very salutary.

The Spectator is of opinion that after Biker Pasha's defeat and General Graham's victory we must lemainiii Egypt. Yet how are we to remain without ruling, or rule wull without acknowledging iespons>ibility for our rule ? Already it is announced that while we occupy Egypt Sir Evelyn Baling must be obeyed ; but ocenping under that condition, and with evacuation in the distance, is almost purely mischievous. „ A European Government is not formed, the native Government does not revive even sufficiently to be able to keep Soudanese invaders out oft he territory, and the Treasury is crushed by double expenditure. Of course, if an Egyptian army can defend the country we can goand, leave it to the old oppression which evolved Arabi : but does anybody sincerely believe that, or think that if Sir Evelyn Wood's army had been at El Teb the Soudanese would not have broken its formation, and left the Khedivo without a resource except submission '! Men say that Zobehr P.isho. is to be made Emir of Khartoum, and wh.it is there t-i stop that ambitious slave-dealer, when firmly seated, from descendirg with his Arabs on E/ypt ? No Power, no European can protect the Egyptians and secure them the fruit of their Libors, and no European Power will do it justly with an eye to them as well as to itself, except Great Bittain. Without a Biiti-th piotectorate there will be and can be no safety for Egypt even against the Soudanese.

Mr Martin F. Tupper writes as follows to the London Time on the subjects of taxation and representation :—"I: — "I ask for the insertion of n few wmrU mi t'lo^o twin topics, jii^t now of general interest. For many year-? I have advocated (as may bo pro\ ed by my published writings) a sliding scale for both income ta\ and voting, it being manifestly inequitable to equ.xli.se all classes in those respects. I would propose that, instead of, say, 7d in the £ for everyone, rich or poor, the clerk, for example, .should be taxed Id in the £ for hh £100 a year, while the inordinately wealthy should be mulcted in 10s for his £100,000, and so pro rata for intermediate incomes, thus tluowing the burden of State revenue on the more or less leisure class mo*>t able to bear it, while industrious poverty is, to a great extent, relieved. Similarly, though m an opposite direction, I would (while giving every citizen, properly qualified, his single vote) extend tho number of vote.? for each man, according to his wealth in land or money, his public service", office, avowed merits, acquirements, and so forth ; so that while, for instance, the clerk has his own vote, the merchant may have three or more, the common soldier may double his by an earned V.C., the shopkeeper by becoming a mayor or being dubbed a knight, the heroes of war and of peace may gain voting power as well as rank and money, and thus every form of human merit be rewarded an 4 fencotiragcd in a political sense. Vptinfi; papers properly constructed and provided with adequate penalties for false returns might quietly work out this just and new reform, equitable to every man (and for aught I can &cc to the contrary, woman also) thereby properly representing the people in our Senate, from the lowe«t to the highest all over the land. In proof that this is no new thought of mine, let mo be forgiven for referring any whom these presents may concern to a chapter on Representation in ' Proverbial Philosophy, 1 page 453, o£ Ward and Lock's complete edition."