MEAT FREEZING FOR WAIKATO.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2707, 16 November 1889, Page 2

MEAT FREEZING FOR WAIKATO.

Thkuf. is no question of more importance to the farmers of Yr'aikato at the present lime than that of meat freezing and obtaining a supply of the necessary sheep. In our Tuesday's issue we published a letter, received by Mr Prank J licks of Pukekura, which, in a measure, disposed of the latter queition, and it is with feelings of pleasure that we are able to announce that the former problem seems more likely to be solved than has been the case for some time pist. At the last meeting of tho Waikato Farmers' Club, the subject was thoroughly discussed and the prevailing opinion appeared to be that the Loan and Mercantile Company, who have just taken over the Auckland freezing Works, would not be able to quote terms that would prove remunerative to the farmers, seeing that they wore trying to cut the butcher's throats, so to speak, by starting retail shops and selling at a very low figure. We learn, however, that an amicable arrangement between these contending parties will probably be arrived at, whereby the butchers will be enabled to make a fair profit, but the question of freezing still remains to bo dealt with. Should the Company not offer sufficient inducement, the farmers have yet another string to their bow, in the well known tirm of Nelson Brothers. This firm have bettor facilities for disposing of their meat than other companies.as they have opened shops in most of the largo mining and manufacturing towns of .England, and they also appear equally anxious to afford every facility to the farmers of New Zealand to dispose of their sheep. They have arranged to sond a freezing hulk to a convenient spot on the East Coast, and if a sufficient supply can be guaranteed, wo are credibly informed they will also send a freezing hulk to Tauranga. This will make the Waikato farmers independent of the Auckland Company, as the sheep can easily be driven to that port at a less cost than training them to Auckland, and even then thero will be tho probability of the meat fetching a better price in England, as Messrs Nelson do not altogether depend upon the wholesale butchers to relieve them of their cargoes as most other firms do. lhe sheep would be slaughtered on land, and the carcases be convoyed to the hulk in a small steamer. If tho Auckland Company had adopted this method instead of building theexpensive works on the reclaimed ground, they would not now have been in such a sorry plight. They had every opportunity of doing so, for at the time that the Triumph ran acrotmd at Tiri Tiri, Mr E. B. Walker strongly urged tho Company to purchase the vessol; and nothing could have been better suited for the purpose, for she had several cool chambers and two refrigerating engines on board. However, the advice was not taken, and now Messrs Nelson are taking the wind out of their sails by a similar plan. We are afraid the guarantee will prove rather a difficult matter, but if tho farmers will combine it can bo done, and wo feel sure they will receive every assistance from Messrs Nelson Brothers.