AN IMPORTANT PROPOSAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1197, 4 August 1911, Page 8

AN IMPORTANT PROPOSAL.

MEAT EXPORT FROM QUEENSLAND. , Referring to the visit of Mr J W 'Harding, of New Zealand, the Brisbane I Courier' of July 21 says that Mr. ■.Harding has been in Brisbane for several -.weeks, with a. view to operating thero in •tho exporter of frozen sheep and cattle. .He hart tound Queensland conditions materially different from those existing in tho Itomimon, and especially in the matter of depots for slaughtering, freezing and shipping beef and mutton on own|er a account. He stated to a representative of the "Courier" that ho had' not been able to induco any of the exporting companies to treat stock for him, and had ■ lately been operating by slaughtering at ■.private yards, freezing at tho works of a ■non-exporting firm, and then shippin" to (.London. Mr. Harding, in the course oC hntervioTO with the .Premier and the Jw « ?, r A e"«iHure, made a request that tho Government should erect abattoirs in connection with tho cold "storage works which it is proposed to establish ■in Brisbane, pointing out as an inducoimont that lie and others would guarantee 'to keep such works fully employed and (Occupied. He mentioned to the Ministers .-named that ho is prepared to pay a conißiderably higher price for stock than is at present received by stock-owners, and pays that tho values set on exportable beef in Queensland nro much, lower than those in Ncvr Zeala'nd, while the articlo is superior. Mr. Harding has already interviewed many stock-owners in Brisbane,'and during a-tour in tho West, before whom he has placed propositions for , buying sheep and cattle. ■ Ho is of opiniion that with works open to treat a.nd export stock on owner's account, many would prefer to operate in that direction TiUncr than by selling under present conditions. Tho matter laid heforo tho Govtrnmoat will receive consideration.