THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, JULY 16, 1883.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6758, 16 July 1883, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, JULY 16, 1883.

Probably there has not been originated in Auckland a more interesting or important public enterprise than that of the New Zealand Frozen Meat and Storage Company. The first important stage in its inauguration has now been reached, in itsobtaining possession of the valuable site on which the works and buildings are to be erected. As announced in last issue the lot was put up to auction on Friday last in order to conform to the conditions on which harbour endowments must be disposed of, and the conditions being such as to favour the particular enterprise intended to be established, there was •no competition, the company obtaining the property at a merely nominal rental. In any other circumstances such an arrangement would naturally be viewed with suspicion if not disfavour ; for if the site in question had been cut up and offered in small lots, it would have drawn a very handsome rental to the Harbour Board. But there has been a general consensus of opinion that the project should be treated exceptionally as one destined to confer the very highest advantages on the commerce of the city, and the prosperity of the country districts over a very wide area.

The objects of the company have been so fully discussed that it is needless to refer-to them in detail. Suffice to say that it is understood that its operations are to be of the most public character. That is to say, it is not intended that the company should merely freeze and export frozen meat for itself, or merely keep storage accommodation ; for its own goods. But that on reasonable terms it should receive and freeze carcases of mutton and beef for the producers of the East and West Coasts as well as, of the Auckland districts proper, and also receive and store the goods of merchants and others, thus collecting cargoes and having them in readiness for the large class of steamers which may in this way be induced to visit the port. It is somewhat tantalising, when we are congratulating ourselves on the approaching arrival of a splendid steamer like the Doric, to notice that she must go away down South to load at places where, from the more advanced state of enterprise, cargoes will be ready awaiting her, and where she can find that prompt despatch which is imperatively necessary in the case of a vessel of her class. In the absence of such co-operation as that intended by this new company, that state of things must necessarily continue for many years, and in the meantime new and powerful interests are growing up elsewhere, and new commercial connections must be in process of formation, even with districts the natural central entrepot for which should be Auckland. Indeed if this district is to maintain its prestige and make advances towards that eminence as a commercial centre of which we have I

so high hopes, the gathering" institution as that prS is urgently required ; and thoffSf one will proress for a moment th a ° t mere general philanthropy & motive prompting men to put tU; 6 | capital together for such every resident in the district 3d feel gratified at the far-seem* en -' prise of those who have origbated project so exactly suited to time, P l acp and circumstances. '

At the same time it -is only £ a ; r t say that it is possible to suppose a cJI in which this enterprise mightVconj! other than a great public advantage warranting the splendid bonus whfch the Harbour Board has conferred 0 it from the public estate. If it worked in any form as a monopoly 6 if it refused to freeze and store for producers and others, except conditions of that meat becoming the property of the company, to be frozen stored, exported and sold for the *o!e benefit of the company ; or in like manner if it declined to receive goods other than its own, and for its own trading purposes, then would the enterpn4 falsify its early promise, and be abusing for private gain the public, bonus which was intended to be conferred for the public good. In such, case w e can readily understand how not onl» I would a great public outcry arise that the Harbour Board had given avav the public estate to benefit a mer* private trading company, bat various districts other similar enterprises, even if on a smaller scale would very speedily arise, in order that the producers of sheep and cattle might have the benefits of the hi°h prices of the London market, and not. be subject to the ruling of the price &t whatever rate might from time to time be pleasing to the possessors of the monopoly. This is an evil of which some have fears, but we believe -without reason. It is quite true, as they say, that if the new Freezing Company merely purchased meat and exported on its own account, having a monopoly it could fix the price of sheep and cattle in the district, at any rate to suit itself and no very great benefit, if kny at all) would be conferred on the districts while general enterprise would be cramped if not crushed. It has always been an understanding, and indeed the company must see it to be to its interest, to afford the utmost freedom and encouragement to the development of the producing interests of the districts, by enabling producers to obtain for themselves the current prices ruling in London, while the company itself shall derive substantial profits as intermediary in freezing, storing, and exporting, and even it may be, in making advances on consignments.

I Worked in this way, it is impossible to conceive of a more valuable and usej ful public enterprise. It would by its magnitude and character give con£- ! dence to producers of all kinds of exportable things over a very wide area, and would stimulate the experiments of exporting things of a minor kind, that probably do not enter now into the consideration of many who are looking to London and the great cities and towns of England as our legitimate market for most kinds of produce. Indeed it is possible to look on this novel institution as characteristic of Auckland, and just as we look on our city itself as destined to be the great gathering and distributing place for the scattered islands of the South Pacific, so the stores and works of this company may become a centre of trade to Auckland itself, a common meeting ground in which traders of every kind will meet and avail themselves of its advantages, without suspicion or fear of being circumvented or undermined in their own trading operations by the operations of the company. The idea is a noble one. It remains to be seen whether the company will act up to it. and be able to resist the temptation to mar it by converting itself into an alldevouring trading monopoly. We believe the best things of the project. It has in it the elements of good to the district, and good to the commerce of Auckland beyond those of any commercial enterprise launched for many a year—if ever; and as the shares of the company are abouG to be placed on the market, we trust that as the surest preventive to abuse, every institution, and every interest in the district tliat can be in any way concerned in the right working of the company will become connected. With the exceedingly valuable concession made from harbour endowments, and the prospects of remuneration from freezing and storing, the enterprise appears to have the best promise of commercial success, so that there appears safety as well as profit to investors. That being so, we sincerely trust that the shares will be widely and well placed, so that every interest in the district having a voice in the control, this, one of the most promising of all the hopes of Auckland, may be kept travelling in right paths.