The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : TUESDAY, MAY 24th. FREEZING WORKS FOR BALCLUTHA

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVI, Issue 97, 24 May 1910, Page 4

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA : TUESDAY, MAY 24th. FREEZING WORKS FOR BALCLUTHA

FRIDAY'S MKFTINti - Till-: OUTLOOK. On Friday next the fanners of the ('lutha District and the residents of tiie district generally will lie called upon td consider ulieilu'f the prop.is al to establish freezing works in |! a !- '.-liillia meets willi tlii-n- approval, and whether (hey arc piepnrcd to rrive il. a loyai ami unanimous .support. We have ilealt with the question very fully during the past week or two, lint we have at the same time endeavour- I to steer e/ear of a partisan attitude Much as we would like to see works established here, and tnttcli as we feel they would be of benefit to (|„. farmers, the residents „f Balcbithn, and those of the district concerned Generally yet we have felt that tiie proposition must be advanced on u sound basis, and our desire has bwn to place (he facts so far as we have been able to obtain them as fullv and as clearly before our rentiers as possible so that they might be enabled to arrive at their own conclusion on the matter. Ilow far we have been successful in this we leave our leaders to judge. We have shown thai upon an estimate that is based on the (inures for the whole Dominion tnere must be a mimimuni of at least 205,000 sheep and lambs available in the' immediate district for freezing works here, that this compares favourably with what is being put through at other works which arc paving well directly to the shareholders and which are paying the fanners <>l the neighbourhood handsomeh , and we think we have shown that local freezing works will mean an average advance of l.r,\ per head per Mnecj) and I;i kii 1 > in the pockets' of th" "'lowers. The next ipiestion is:ls il possible to raise snilicicnt. capital to establish works here ? We say yes, unquestionably, if (he settlers jive \'i anything like a fair measure of support. This is a matter i u which th" farmers of the district must take th» initiative, and if they do so .-e feel we are justilied' in saying the resident, of Halcbitha and other adjacent, 'centres will respond handsomely to their cail, even the working men of the township will respond heartily, and, we feel bound to say, as well in pinportion to their means as the farmers of the district. We have gone into the question of the number' ■>]' farmers in a district the rough outer limits of which are bounded by North Watiguloa, Crichton, Waitnhuim West, part of Tuapeku West, Clydevale, I'omahaka, Waivvra, and Catlins River, and we find there arc nearly 101)0, say to he well wildin the mark MjO. Is it too much tr. ask that these SI Ml farmers alone lak,. an average of f25 of shares each ! Surely not. If thev do this we haw C20,00il from these'alone. w'e should say that if the. thing is going to ■."•• ahead a tall e\-ery farmer in °t?.e di>uict would take a minimum cf .£2.1 in shares, ami if we stick to this minimum, which we do not think tot sanguine, we should say ;ne farmer, subscription should total CttUiOO. Called up to only one-half this in' itseif would put the project upon ;t financial _ basis. Hut ' even if tin: farmers did not subscribe to the extent we have mentioned-if they on'e subscribed up to t.'iJn.OOD'■-we' |;,,u: full conlideiice in saying that the s'lijsvriptions outside the farmers will ho snllicient to put the project up.m a financial footing. As a minimum we, believe the concern can be worVd en a basis of nominal capital -Cat).Odd, Subscribed i'd,>,olKJ, called up CUaUO, but whi!,. this is so it isr advisable that subscriptions should be larger than the ligures mentioned. We believe that the committee who hav,; been gathering particulars, will havr a large amount of valuable information to place before the meeting ~ii Friday. If the meeting decides" to proceed further, as we believe it will, then we can only commend the project for the hearty support of all classes in the district. A united ami hearty effort anil success will be ,i----eheived. There must be no split mi matters of detail ; it is hardlr to Wexpected that where some him' Ire Is N' people are concerned then- can be absolute unanimity on all points, but •so lone- as there is reasonable agreemenf on the main issue, we have a reasonable claim upon the unanim.ni>: co-operation of every section. Wo hope to see a large attendance at the meeting so that the subject may In; thoroughly ventilated in all its aspects, and the opinion of all paitio..given due consideration.

ENCOURAGINC i.kttkrs. In our issue of Friday lust wo published tho opinions of !<M-epres.',K live C'lutha farmers on the proposal to establish freezing works in' Bulehitlm. We now supplement these with th*» opinion of Mr John Clarke, ( >f Brooklands. Clinton, who writes : I neeived yours of sth inst, asking how I think the proposal to establish free/ in»; works in lialclutlia is bein.j received in this disiriet. I'rom what I ran hear the greater number of tin' farmers are very favourable to tl«' proposal to establish the works, ami 1 think a good many would take up shares in it. | amy say for myself I do not see why frec:jiug 'works a ( lli-l-elilflm should not be a suceess ami .1 very benelil. and profit t<> dv farming community. 1 should think the works would be a great udvaiilai;'' and gain to tln* stock agents, who niv buying f a t stoek on the farms. At present they have simply to send tl'V stoek to the works at Hurnside ami eompete against the eompany who run the works, and of course tlie Co. c;iii give them space or not- just as it suits the.m. I am not an expert ul all, but my own opinion is that freezirig works in the Clutha would be 0 great benefit and profit to all the formers in the district. We also communicated with tl ,c Hon. Thos. Mackenzie, inviting him to give the settlers of tho district th« benefit of his views upon the sub.iifl' briefly. The hon. gentleman replied ' li follows .'—"With reference to your enquiry regarding freezing works at I\»'' clutha, I take it you wish my opinions regarding tho prospects. 1 think it should be possible to make a suo* cess of the undertaking. The whol« pivot will, however, be the question o! mauagomeno and the support W*

corded. Every step will require to be most carefully thought out—the competition is so keen now that there will be no room for mistakes however small." Mr Mackenzie adds that he wishes the project every success. We also directed the Hon. Thos. Fergusls attention to the proposal to establish works here, and asked him to favour us with his views on the j subject. He replied as follows : I With respect to the establishment of freezing works at Balclutha, owing to pressure of business I regret that I have been unable to give this much consideration up to the present time. .Should there be a sufficiency of stock available for and likely to come to the works at Balclutha, I do not see how it could help but be a benefit to graziers, farmers, and the district. 1 have been making enquiries from other places, especially the North Island, as to the minimum quantity of stock which will keep the works oror.erly going, but have not had replies to my inquiries. I know that on the East Coast of the North Island some small freezing works have recently been established and I should like to know how they are getting on. It is undoubtedly in favour of local works : that they can get sheep to the freezer without being knocked about by long train journeys and possibly bruised. The success of the works depend also very much on how you are able to use the bye-products, and what would be the minimum number of-sheep required to be able to deal with them to advantage. 1 think it would be a very good thing for the district if remunerative works could be established. Sorry I cannot give you any further information at present, but wishing you every success in your endeavour to benefit Clutha.— I am, etc., Thomas Fergus. mmm.

WANTED EQUITABLE GRADING, j The comment is often made that j prime mutton and lamb is valued at ' id to per lb less at the Bumside \ Works than the same quality of mut- j ton and lamb at any of the Canterbury works. This arises from the I "Prime Canterbury" brand, which is a distinctive brand associated with the ! earliest exportation of frozen mutton und lamb, and commands pride of i place on the London market. Thus I it is that in the High Commissioner's ■ cable published in Tuesday's daily j papers, we find the average prices for i "Canterbury" mutton quoted at 3 : |d, j and "other New Zealand" 3k!. and for ''Canterbury ' lamb sjd, and "other N.Z." sd. There may be difference in the quality in some cases, but in many cases there is not, for we often find Otago mutton and lamb railed to Canterbury and classed "Prime Canterbury," while lamb and mutton of equal quality killed in Otago ranks as "other New Zealand," and is quoted at a farthing less per lb. It is high time that this unfair system of grading was abolished, and the output of ' the various works graded according ! to quality, no matter where they hap- j nen to be exported from. We have j heard there is an intention on the > part of the Government to bring into ; operation a system of grading that ; will be more equitable to all parts of j the Dominion. We notice that the ' delegates at the Provincial Conference j of the Farmers' Union, held in Dunedin last week, dealt with this condition of matters, and passed a resolution strongly i;nrim_ r upon the Government the necessity for makincr it compulsory for all meat exported from the Dominion to be graded by a Government grader, in the same mariner as butter, cheese, and hamp are now graded. It is not suggested that there should be one uniform grade throughout the Dominion, but that, if the experts consider there is a marked difference in quality, discretion should be allowed them ; nor is it suggested that the grader sh'ouid be given any power to interfere with the classification of the meat for trade purposes. Neither is it suggested that he should stop the export of any meat so long as it is not diseased and is fit for human consumption, although it is below the standard of the ordinary established grades, but that it should be marked as 'rejected from or below grading.' as is now done will) the lowL r rade hemp, butter, and cheese : —with the following main objects : (a) To simplify the business ; (b) to provide facilities for cheeking and protecting the farmers' interests, both as regards the freezinir works and the London agents, while it will also tend to educate the farmers to provide atrainst defects of his stock : (c) to establish a uniformity of grading, which is esseh- i tial to protect the interests of the farmer as well as the buyer : (d) to establish an impartial and independent medium to facilitate the pooping of. small shipments of meat, if it is found j necessary.

Fire Brigade Concert and Demonstration to-morrow night. Empire Day will he observed at the Balclutha School on June 7th instead [ of to-day. j Mr Goyen, Chief Inspector, inspected j the Balclutha District High School j yesterday. As Mr Coven retires at i the end of August the above will prob- j ably be his last visit to this school. The Bruce County Council, having J been advised that Mr Stevenson does j not intend to proceed with his threat- ; '■ned action in re the Charitable Aid ! Board Election, has applied to tli-j j Government for pennissioVi to hold an ' election, or as an alternative to ap- j point the Chairman to the Hoard. The Government appointed Mr ('.. E. Kenst, I of Messrs Powley and Keasi. to repre- ! sent the Clutha Council, and possibly ! if they appoint anybody they may ap-l point a Dunedin man to represent Bruce, or perhaps Mr Stevenson. The cry a few years ago was for more local control in Hospital and Charitable Aid matters and now that iliey have the chance of it the local bodies are very dilatory in making use of it. The Special "Empire" and "World" issue of The Amateur Photographer and Photographic News, published on March 8, is a remarkable production, ' and one that no amateur photographer should fail to obtain. It is full of fine pictures on art paper, printed in two colours, and contains \ a mass of practical, useful and elementary articles for all camera users 'n all parts of the world. Particulars of cash prize competitions an'd items of interest for all who are photographers or interested in photography, both elementary and advanced, will be found in this notable number. There will he a flying week at Doncaster from June 4 to 11, The prize money will exceed £3QQQ,

| In accordance with the custom ob- ' served elsewhere, the steamer Clyde j "hove to," and work ceased at the , appointed time on Friday afternoon last, the occasion of the King's ; I funeral. All the sheds up river are Idled to the doors with grain for transit to Balclutha, while huge piles are stacked outside, and large quantities are still piled up in the fields where it was threshed. Mr Tout alone has, 2,000 sacks oats ready for shipment, while fully 1,000 tons of chalf are to come down. The steamer has three months work in sight. At present she is making three trips a week, a one-day trip being made to Beggs' and back. The steamer Clyde went up river on Friday with between lis and 70 tons of general cargo for Whitelea, Beggs', Greenfield, Clydevale, and Tuapeka Mouth. On her return trip on Saturday she loaded with (>2O sacks wheat at Tuapeka Mouth from Mr Goldsmith, 100 sacks wheat at Clydevale from Mr Sn'ushall and 140 bags chaff at the same place from Mr B. Burnt, and on the Greenfield side 70 sacks potatoes from Mr Karlson, besides j four crates fowls, several lots general cargo and eight passengers. An unusual scene is reported from the far north of Scotland, where fanners have been burning their crops of barley and oats owing to being unable to harvest them. ' They had to get the ground clear for the plough, and this was the most effective and economical way of doing so. In another instance a number of fanners assembled to cut the crop, as to burn it would destroy the young grass. From l(i to 18 scythes were to be seen going one after the other ; the crop was afterwards used for ''bedding down" the cattle. "I would have no hesitation in putj ting money into the steamer traffic I on the Clutha river," said Mr W. i Scott, of Dunedin, who went up to I Tuapeka Mouth with the members of j the Clutha River Board on Friday. j "I can see what the freight traffic is | like and what its probabilities are, : and I am certain that in the summer months a profitable passenger traffic could be developed. You could land j them at the Blue Mountains the same day as they leave Dunedin, and leave there after mid-day in time to get to Dunedin the same night. I am certain that if the people of Dunedin only knew that you woidd get hundreds of them every year." On Monday De Spong, the gifted entertainer, will appear in the Oddfellows' Hall, and concert-goers may expect a right royal evening. Being an entertainer of the Mel. B. Spurr type De Spong keeps his audience interested in a masterly mariner. His musical monologues are really beautiful. His after dinner speeches and toasts keep his audience in roars of j laughter. He is a great laugh-maker j and a firm believer in the fact that a ! good laugh will not injure anyone —its i a fine tonic. The serious items will | include "The Bells," (in which some , wonderful effects are produced), arid several dramatic recitals. Mr G. W. | Johnstone is the baritone of the Com- ; pany, arid will sing "Because." "I hear vou calling me," and "Father O'Flynn." The new- leader of the Salvation Army. Commissioner Hay. has just launched what is described as the Anti-Smoking and Gambling League. The purpose, of the league is to combat these practices amongst the young people of New Zealand, and vigorous efforts are being put forth by Salvationists up and down the country in order to secure the greatest number of signatures possible to the pledge. The pledge reads as follows :—"Believing cigarette and tobacco smoking and gambling amongst lads must be harmful to their moral and bodily wellbeing, I hereby enlist in this legion, promising by the help of God to do all that lies' in my power to persuade others from gambling and using tobacco in any form ; also to have nothing to do with the habit myself." The members of the league will wear a neat celluloid badge about the size of a button, on which is inscribed the purposes of the league in monogram, jt is nicely printed in crimson and yellow. We understand that a movement of this description was launched in Great Britain some time ago. and the latest reports reveal the fact that upwards of 70.000 members have been secured. Branches have also been I started in U.S.A. and Canada, and ! other Continental Countries with equally marked success. I The opinion, so far as we have heard it expressed by the settlers up j river, and we have heard the expression of a fair number, is that what- ! ever prospects the Clutha Valley rail- ' way iiad of favourable consideration in tne near future they have been seriously discounted bv the meeting at Greenfield on the 7th inst., by the threats that were made that if they did not < get the railway from the Government | they would go to the Opposition. The I fact of the members for the district ! not being invited to this and other i meetings of the league is also not • favpurablv commented upon. We askI ed several' settlers their opinion on the proposed District Railways Board j under which the provision of the. State ; Guarantee Advances Act would be ex- ! tended so as to permit of a local i Board borrowing money under Slate guarantee for the construction of the railway, and their reply was that if i the. Bill would be a means of pressing the claims of the railway on public I attention it might be worth eonsidera- [ tion, but as a practical solution of j the difficulty they had not much faith in it. Granting that Parliament approved of District Railway Boards, which is hardly likely, the defining of the boundaries of the district that j would provide the guarantee is beset with difficulties that _ cannot be realised until an attempt is made to deal with them. Many of the settlers do not see why they should have to guarantee the interest on the cost_ of this railway while at the same, time 1 as general 'taxpayers they are paying their share of the interest on the cost of other railways which are only paying a few shillings per cent. There was a worthy Curate, who A. cough could not endure. He cured, we're told, both young and old, With Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. The short ! the tall ! the young ! the bald ! The poor who paid no pew-rate, He cured them all ! And so was called The Woods' Great Peppermint Curate!

The postponed hockey match, Ladies v. Gentlemen, is to be played tomorrow. The ladies are to provide afternoon tea. Owing to Friday week, June 3rd, being one of the days of the Dunedin Winter Show, there will be no sale at Bulclutha Corporation Yards till 17th June. At the request of the directors of the Stirling Dairy Factory, Mr Win. Sawers, who retired from the management fully two years ago, has eonsent«l to again undertake the dutbs of manager in the meantime. A view of the comet was obtained on Sunday evening and last evening between six o'clock and half past 7.' In a cloudless sky it should be seen every evening this week above the north western horizon. At the meeting of the Kaitangata Borough Council on Wednesday evenI ing last the Mayor submitted a small acetylene gas lamp for street lighting and explained that the lamp,"fitted complete would cost about 30/. After the matter had been fully discussed the Council decided to erect one at the railway crossing as a trial. A few months ago there was a feeling, amongst some of the settlers up the river that the River Board should not put on a second steamer, as by doing so they might hinder the rail-' way. The unanimous cry now is, however, "(Jive us a second steamer as quick as you like—in time for next season certain.'* Jn eight months' time we hope to see a (iO ton boat that will reach Clydevale in about half the time of the present boat. At Mr Malcolm's meeting at Puerua last Wednesday evening then? was only a small attendance, Mr A. G. MeKenzie being in the chair. Mr Malcolm (writes our correspondent) dealt with the main questions of the day in an interesting manner, and at the conclusion was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. At the close of the address a number of matters of local interest were brought under the notice of the member. Mr James Allen, member for Bruce, makes a tour of his electorate this week. Last night he opened at Milton, when he dealt with Taxation, ."National Defence, and a New Zealand National Life. To-night, at Stirling, he will deal specially with Restrictive and Beneficial Legislation, Land. Local Government. to-morrow night, at Wailahuna, he will deal specially with Retrenchment and Wasteful Expenditure. On Saturday, at Kaitangata, he will deal specially with Pensions, Annuities, and Education'. On Monday, 30th, he will address his electors at Lawrence, when Railways and the Accounts of the Dominion will be the subjects discussed,