The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning Tuesday, December 11, 1888. FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 233, 11 December 1888, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning

Tuesday, December 11, 1888. FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Be just and fear not £ Let all the ends thou aim’st at be thy country’s, Thy God's, and truth’s.

It is most gratifying tp see, judging by the meeting on Saturday last, that the settlers of this district have at last become thoroughly aroused to their own interest, and -that a determined effort is being made to enable this district to participate in the frozen meat industry. Whether, by binding themselves as they have done, they have taken the best course is open to question. An argu ment which was made much of at the meeting on Saturday was in effect that because there had been laxity and inertness in the past the best plan was to make, so to speak, a running jump, heedless of what obstacles there might be at the other side of the hedge. We are rather surprised at a shrewd man like Mr Charles Evans assuming that it is wise to enter upon an agreement of so binding a nature without much prior thought Mr Evans had of course time to think over the matter for his ewn guidance, and expressed his firm conviction that it was the most satisfactory they could wish for; but one of his strong points—-and which he took more than one opportunity to emphatise —was that he felt every confidence that Messrs Nelson Bros, would act fairly with them. We do not for a moment doubt that Messrs Nelson Bros.arestraightforward business men — the reputation they have earned fully proves that. But in matters of business it is generally a question of who can get the best bargain, and we are afraid that Messrs Nelson Bros, are likely to get it in this instance. It is a pity that Mr Evans did not have the scheme published beforehand (which we would have been most happy to do for the purpose of disseminating information). Independent of any minor objections, we were sorry to see that Mr Chambers’ proposal was not listened to, to make it an especial point that freezing works should be erected in the district. To our mind the hulk business is a most unsatisfactory one, and appears more destined to convenience Messrs Nelson Bros, than in consideration of the interest of the settlers The assertion that if the offer were not immediately accepted it would lead to another three years’ delay before we were better off is not at all complimentary to the sheepfarmers generally, and if they are so careless as to their own welfare it is not at all surprising if as a rule they get the worst of the bargain. At the meeting it was stated the hulk had been found unsatisfactory in other places, but of course, it was urged it did not matter a button here, because all the settlers would stand to lose would be from a rise in the markets. It was freely admitted, in fact used as an argument, that Nelson Bros, wished to get a monopoly of this district, and to this end we fear the hulk is to be employed. It will no douot suit admirably to cruise the hulk along the coast to Messrs Ormond’s, J. C. Williams’ and other stations and then call in at Gisborne on its way. past, and it might suit bur settlers nearer Gisborne very well for the time being, but we hope they will seriously weigh matters before they finally commit themselves to this arrangement. It has been urged that if at the end of three years Messrs Nelson Bros, are not prepared to enter into fresh arrangements suitable to the district the sheepfarmers can easily withdraw their support, but once allow an outside monopoly of this kind to get a hold over the district, with a monument of a hulk, and it will be a difficult thing for any other company to commence operations. The company holding the reins would be certain to have a certain amount of support, and in a place like this a division would be an insurmountable obstacle. The alternative proposal made at the meeting was not of a very definite nature, but it merited more consideration than it received. Apart, however, from that, we believe that by combination the sheepfarmers of this district could obtain more satisfactory terms than are now offered to them, and in any case they would show a more business spirit if they endeavored to ascertain if this were possible.