NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1828, 21 April 1885, Page 2

NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — The question at present exorcising the minds of the principal settlers of Te Puke is, what are we to do with our fat cattle. It is a very serious question, for thei-e are now, and have been for some time past, at least fire hundred head in the district, ready for the butcher. Besides sheep are actually going: to waste ; for the frost will soon bo here and then they will begin to lose flesh which cannot bo put on again until next spring. Tho settlers know, or ought to know, that Tauranga, as a market is utterly valueless to thorn ; that the Thames is doubtful — indeed the markets there are all engaged for the next six months ; that shipping fat stock to Auckland is expensive, and the risk great besides the doubtful changes of realizing remunerative prices. Yet knowing all these things, no steps aro taken to iitilise what they produce, when the answer to the question ia plain: — A Meat Preserving Company ! Te Puke is, and will fov some years to come, be essentially a grazing district and one of the finest in the North Island. If the settlers would combine— understand tho fable of the bundle of sticks— there would be no difficulty in starting a oompany ; the plant is not costly and they have the principle thing — the material on the spot. Very little capital is wanted and any bank would advance cash for working expenses to a company with such security to offer. It is no use saying what ought to have been done six months ago, but it is certainly true that the greater part of fat stock, now in the Te Puke pastures, should be on their way to England in tins. The demand for tinned meat at Home was never larger than it is now ; most of the American markets are cleared out, and there is no reason why Te Puke should not add her quota for the supply of our troops. It will very likely be urged that now is not a good time to start when the oattle will be growing poorer instead of fatter ; that is very true, but now is the time to try and get up the company, not wait till it is time to slaughter the oattle. No one would expect anything to be done quickly at Te Puke. Past experience proves that there is just energy enough in the district to lose a season — as for instance the Bacon and Cheese factory — so that if a meat preserving company is attempted to be started now, it will probably commence operations about this time next year. It is unnecessary for mo to go into particulars just now as to tho cost of plant, the price to be paid per hundred pounds, and so forth ; but lam informed, that there is an expert in the district who can supply all the needful information. If a looal oompany is not soon started, it is, I believe, on tho oardg that the job will be taken out of the hands of those most interested by a private individual and then the producers will find out too late that they are working for the benefit of an outsider instead of themselves. — I am, &c, Progress.