MEAT FREEZING.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 238, 22 December 1888, Page 2

MEAT FREEZING.

THE CONFERENCE WITH MR. NELSON. A meeiixc. of those interested in establishing freezing works at Gisborne was held in the City Rink yesterday, Mr C. Evans in the chair. The Chairman said since last meeting he had written to Mr Nelson, who had come up to meet them and give explanations of his offer. Mr Nelson said many people thought that if his firm did not think there was something remarkably good sticking out they would not have made the offer they had. Unfortunately it was in the far off future that they saw something sticking out. Tbs London bouse said if they could control sufficient meat they could regulate the market instead of the market regulating them. He believed that if they got the meat themselves they could get better prices. By experience in Hawke's Bay they bad proved that the sheepfarmers could not afford to freeze because they could not afford to run the risk of excessively low prices. For them to get 3s per head for their sheep meant bankruptcy. Messrs Nelson Brothers’ risk was over the whole year, and they came out about right at the end of the year. The year before last they had a continuous run of bad luck, and lost money—about 2s to 6s per head on 50,000 sheep. This year they had set themselves right again. He mentioued this to show the principle on which they worked. Some people had asked what guarantee they had that the firm would honestly carry out the work. It was manifestly to their interest to take care of the sheep, as the more the mutton realised the greater their profits would be. Thera was hardly any way in which they could play pranks with the mutton. It they were going to work the thing for a year or two and then give it up, they might act dishonestly. They could not afford to do that, and could not take advantage of it. It had also been said that he was not giving them as good term; as he gave the Napier people. It was wonderfully clear that they could not give as good terms here as at Napier. The contract with the Hawke’s Bay people had been made at Home, and the Gisborne one had been drawn out by himself. The figures in the two contracts were different, but they worked out nearly the same. He eaid they had to go and start works for a comparatively small number of sheep, and there was not the slightest chance of any money being made for them, the expenses for freezing a small number of sheep being just as great as freezing a large number. One thing he would like to mention was that since he made the offer to Mr Evans, he had received definite instructions from his firm not to undertake the carriage of beef, for the simple reason that the shipping companies had not yet agreed as to the freight, so he would have no alternative but to withdraw the offer. In reply to a question Mr Nelson Baid he could take beef and freeze it on the owners’ account. He expected that the shipping companies would soon agree as to the rate of freight. In reply to Mr Dods Mr Nelson said every lot was sold on its own merits, and account sales were returned to each individual. Mr Arthur asked, in the event of the works not being erected by October 1 next, if the weight of the sheep would be estimated here.

Mr Nelson said it was very improbable that the works Would not be ready by the Ist of October. It was almost certain, unless the hulk were wrecked coming out. But in the event of any such thing happening, be would take delivery of the sheep on the owner’s station and drive them overland to Napier. He would pay the expenses of driving, but the owner w-ould bear any loss that might occur through the sheep being driven. Mr Arthur asked if Mr Nelson would compel a man to fulfil his guarantee in case the sheep had to be driven. Mr Nelson said the difficulty was his firm had engaged freight, and would have to pay for it if they did not fill it. Mr Graham said it was quits probable that by October next the breakwater would be sufficiently advanced to allow the Australia to come alongside, and the sheep shipped to Napier instead of being driven. In reply to a question, Mr Nelson said works would be erected on shore as soon as a sufficient number of sheep ware guaranteed. It was neither expedient or economical to freeze on a hulk, nor would he have made the proposition had the hulkgiot been lying idle. Mr Graham asked what the difference was in the Napier and Gisborne prices. Mr Nelson said upto 4Jd per lb the prices were very much the same. In the Napier contract, nothing extra was paid until 4Jd per lb was reached, when the sheepfarmers got 40 per cent, of the surplus. In the Gisborne contract, 50 per cent, was paid over4d. It they got up to sd-#the Napier contract was considerably less. Under the arrangements, Napier sheepowners would get about Jd per lb more than those of Gisborne. Mr Graham asked how first and second class sheep were decided. Mr Nelson said second class quality was described as wethers not uuito up to the mark and old ewes, and any sheep grossly fat. Such sheep would not grow alter the first year, as directly an animal became fat it could be sent to the freezing works. Sheep grossly fat were generally rejected and boiled down. He had never had any trouble in applying this rule. In Hawke’s Bay, the first year he had rejected a large quantity,.but after that the rejections were only about per cent. In answer to Mr Seymour, Mr Nelson said sheep of any weight would be taken, so long as they were fat. Mr Clark asked, if the hulk was not ready by October, whether Mr Nelson would take delivery of the sheep here and take all risk 1 He very much objected to his sheep being driven to N ipier. The Chiirman said he thought they might get Mr Nelson to reconsider the question He would like to see him make different terms, because it had been said that Nelson Bros, did not intend to bring their hulk here at all. He thought that so many pounds should be allowed for loss in driving, and added on to the weight of the sheep at Napier. j Mr Nelson said he was so satisfied tha they would be ready by October 1 that he would accept Mr Evans’ offer, if they could agree as to the weight the sheep would be likely to lose. He was deducting 4 per cent off the weight of sheep put into the freezing machines, difference between freezing and dead weight, and he proposed not to deduct this 4 per cent from sheep from Poverty Bay. In reply to Mr Graham, Mr Nelson said he would give owners the option of having the sheep conveyed to Napier by steamer if they could be shipped off the breakwater, but generally sheep got so bruised by ahipmen as to be unfit tor freezing. Mr Chambers thought Nelson Bros, should give them a guarantee that freezing works should be erected on shore within a reasonable time, as there was always a danger of a hulk being blown on shore. Mr Graham said the offer from the other Company would make a difference of 2s 6d per head. Mr Nelson wished to make a few remarks about the North British Company. Their guarantee of IJd was only for one year. He would like to know if they would undertake to guarantee that for three years. He was under the impression they would decline. He happened to know that they were absolutely not in a position to make an agreement for that time. His firm had made an agreement with the three shipping companies to carry meat at an exceptionally cheap rate. The North British could not give Ifd unless they had made arrangements with the shipping companies to help them. Nelson Bros'. agreement with the shipping companies could not be carried out unless, they get a large number of sheep. He looked to the sheepfarmers of Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay to help them to secure this concession. It would be a loss to themselves and the colony it it was allowed to fall through. No doubt the North British Company would like it to fall through, and that was why they were, offering a good price to endeavor to get most of the sheep in Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay He would like to give them some idea of the magnitude of the business done by his firm. They had stores capable of storing 100,000 carcases in London and Birmingham, and tl ey waited to get increased supplies from Hawke’s Bay and Poverty Bay to put up ’ stores in Liverpool and Manchester. They had eat England up into districts and their ttavellers visited each district every month,

Tha bulk of their trade—seven eighths of it—was purely country trade. No doubt they had made large profits, but the whole of the profits had gone in developing the trade. They could do the business at a price no other person in England could do it. Many persons had been under the impression that Nelson Bros, were an unscrupulous firm, and many persons had gone Home to look into their business, but they had all been satisfied. In answer to Mr Clark, Mr Nelson said he would be prepared to freeze at any time the sheep were ready. The hulk would come up for sheep directly notice was given to him. In answer to Mr Matthews, Mr Nelson said they would be forced to put up works when a large number of sheep were supplied. They could not possibly freeze a large number of sheep on the hulk. Replying to a question, Mr Nelson said the classification of sheep was left solely to the Company. Mr Nelson then read the agreement that was to be entered into. A good number of those present signed it, and guaranteed a certain number of sheep.