The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1890.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2765, 3 April 1890, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1890.

Equal and exact justice to all men. Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

Frozen Meat is one of the most valuable branches of trade that exists in connection, with New Zealand.; ;The prejudices which at first existed iu tiie minds of the Home consumers against our frozen meat have been over come, and the trade is now firmly established, and capable of great expansion. There is also an amount of permanency and uniformity in the frozen meat trade that is almost peculiar to; this industry. ' The grazing capabilities of this colony are of the firsti order, and this, combined with our even climate and ready access to the seaboard, offers every facility for promoting the export of meat.

Considerabi o discontentlias al ways existed in the minds of farmers that while the frozen meat was being retailed at most satisfactory prices in the English markets their proportion of the returns was very small in comparison with that obtained by the frozen meat buyers in England. The trade itself was established on a sound and permanent basis, but it nevertheless requires regulating, so that the producer should not be deprived of the full reward of his industry. The overcoming of prejudices and the fighting of big monopolies would take time to bring the price of New Zealand mutton 'to more nearly approach that of the best English and Scotch mutton than at present exists, but the question of the cost of placing his frozen meat on the European markets is a subject upon which, at any rate, the farmer should have some means of exerting his influence.

A short time ago we published a circular which had been issued by the Messrs Nelson Bros., of Napier, with, regard to the orection of freezing works at Tauranga.' The Waikato Farmers' Club had approached Messrs Nelson Bros, on the subject, but that firm had replied that they could not see their way to commence operations at Tauranga. On further reflection, however, they issued the circular to! which we have referred. In effect, the offer of Messrs Nelson Bros, is this. If they were guaranteed 25,000 fat sheep a year for four years, they would place a freezing hulk at Tauranga and buy the mutton outright at not less than ljd por lb. for prime, the price for fat ewos boing U\ per lb. less, and for lambs \<l per lb. more than this quotation ; or they would be prepared to kill and freeze the mutton for the producer, covering all charges to delivery of account sales, at a consolidated rate not exceeding 2£d per lb., and thoy would also, if desired, make an advance of 1-Jd per lb. on prime mutton, in addition to the 2£d for charges. The Auckland Freezing Company,

Limited, with the view of further developing the frozen meat tradn have, it will bo soon, also issued a circular containing a somewhat similar offer. If the company are guaranteed 10,000 fat sheep per annum for ; two years, they will kill und .freeze mutton, including all charges to delivery of account sales, at the rate of 2|d per lb for mutton, and 2|d forlanili., The company will also lie prepared to, advance id per lb.oit prime niuttioiv3§d 'per lb on ewes and second-class "mutton, and 4£d per lb on good lamb, out of which the consolidated charge would bo deducted/;; ; i;: • ' f i It will be observed, that Nelson Bros, are prepared at the option of the .producer, either to purchase the mutton outright from him, or freeze it and have it sold on his account while the company confines itself to freezing at a fixed rate and disposing of the meat for the benefit of the producer.

We urge upon the farmers and graziers of this distriet the benefits to be derived from taking advantage of one or other of these proposals. The question of locality will naturally.have some weight in the decision, but we trust both offers will meet with hearty and systematic support. We are convinced that there is quite sufficient pasture land and l sheep country now in occupation, and accessible to one or other of these ports to supply the required number of sheep ,to each institution with ease. The prices offered are fair and the source of revenue secure.

Waikato is admirably adapted for grazing purposes, and in grazing, as our farmers have learnt from the experience of the last year or two, there is far less risk incurred, through variations in the seasons and unsettled weather, than in any other branch of the farming industry. With grazing, the trouble, expense and anxiety in a favoured land like, our own are reduced to a minimum. The stockcarrying capabilities of New Zealand are far greater than any ,6f the Australian colonies, and this, combined with an abundance of water and the absence of droughts of any moment, makes grazing an industry which is surrounded with practically no difficulties whatever. All that is required is a suitable market.

A fair, and definite offer has now been made to the farmers of this district in this connection. "We earnestly hope, in their own interests and in the interests of the district generally, our farmers will not let these opportunities pass. All that is necessary is that they should combine and arrange amongst themselves for the regular and systematic supply of the required number of sheep. We have on previous occasions advocated in these columns the necessity of farmers taking combined action. If any farmer in Waikato had any misgivings as to the advantages of combination amongst agriculturists, these misgivings must surely now be dispelled. Here is the "Waikato Farmers' Club only a few months in existence, and consisting of a section only of the farming comqiunity, actually causing a marked improvement in the prices offered for mutton grown in this provincial district of Auckland. If the Club were defunct to-morrow, its mem- j bers would have left behind them a record of which they might well be proud. Farmers frequently complain that they are kept down and oppressed. The remedy rests with themselves. United they would be possessed of a power of which many of them are unconscious. If a small section of farmers can influence the frozen,meat trade what could not be accomplished if the farmers throughout the colony took united action. Farmers have rightly been regarded as the back-bone of the country. If they were united they would exercise an enormous influence orer the trade of the colony and in the moulding of its destinies.