The Daily Telegraph SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3843, 10 November 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1883.

The Hawke's Bay shecpfarmers arc likely to have a second string to their bow in the cstablishmcntof the AucklandMcatFreezing Company. It is said to be a good thing- for the public when there is plenty of competition, and, undoubtedly, the Auckland company will have to depend largely on this province for its supplies of whoop and cattle. Considering that this provincial district haw all its eggs in one basket, any prospect that there may be of extending the market is something for which to be thankful. If the outlook presents a brig-liter aspect to sheepfarmers than has prevailed for some time past, the whole community may then fairly anticipate increased prosperity. Anything that has a tendency to improve the returns of our only producers affords corresponding improvement to the general affairs of tho whole district. The outcry now i» Iliat nobody has any money to spend ; the only way to get monoy into the place—other than borrowing—is to find further outlets for our produce. This seems about to be provided by the Auckland Freezing Company, which, coming into direct competition with local consumers, must have the effect of enhancing tho value of sheep. From certain remarks that appeared in a local morning paper the other day it would seem that that journal viewed with distrust, if not with alarm, the operations of tho Auckland company. It is true that the company has an immense capital, and powerful influence at its back ; and it is equally true that in perfecting its arrangements it is in treaty for the use of certain reserves lying between this and Cambridge as resting places for its travelling- stock. Those reserves arc in their existing condition nothing better than pumice deserts, and we should regard it as an excellent thing for tho country at largo if they could be utilised in any way. Our morning contemporary started its article with the assertion that the operations

of the company are shrouded in some sort of mystery. So far from that being tho case the prospectus of the association has bad a wide publicity, and the acquisition of certain of tlie reserves was a leading feature in its scheme. It stands to reason that, when the source of the supply of the raw material is distant more than two hundred miles through most inhospitable country, resting places for tho travelling stock must be acquired. It is no part of our business to criticise the plan of operations ; our duty to this district is to wish that they may have every success, and to help them aa much as in our power lies. The future of the frozen meat trade now seems to be so fully assured that, to secure a fair share of the good tilings that it will bring, bo prepared to largely develop the pastoral resources of this district. If we do this it will take more than one local meat freezing company to absorb the available stock. There need be no fear but what we shall bo able to supply Auckland with all it can buy from us, and then leave abundance for our own consumption.