The Star.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1517, 5 January 1887, Page 2

The Star.

(VUBMSHBD DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1887. WILL THE FARMERS MOVE? .». Now that tbe holidays are over and people are returning seriously to business, we take an opportunity of again calling attention to the desirableness of action being taken by settlers to bring to a definite conclusion the negotiations re promotion of a direct export of frozen meat from this district. There is no need to enlarge on the absolute necessity for farmers securing more profitable markets. We might leave out the word " more," for it seems to imply that profitable markets are at command now. Unfortunately, the experience of the past year has shown that the markets available under present conditions arc simply profit* less. It is not an exaggeration o' Hie slate of the case to say that very

few. farmers can.- snow" a- profit on their balance-sheet for the past year. A good many, we fear, cannot show that the money they have invested in land and stock has earned a fair rate of interest, while their skill and labor has been very ill requited. Well, that is the position : under present circumstances farming does uot pay Then, is no effort t-> be made to remedy this state of things ? It has been pointed out over and over again that there is a profit iv tbe frozen meat fcrade, even at the preaent time, with a prospect of better things still as the trade increases, as it is bound to do, in the ordinary course of events, and a possibility of a period of great activity should extraordinary events occur which, from day to day, are ominously foreshadowed by cable news. Is no effort to be made in this part of the colony, the grand, rich pastures of which are teeming witb stock practically eating their heads off, to secure the benefits of the frozen meat export? Be it remembered that while the farmers here are standiug idly by, waiting for something to turn up, their position and prospects in tlie meantime in no way improving, their brethren in the south continue pegging away at the trade, aud, recognising the advantage of combination, are gradually and successfully consolidating their forces to secure more shipping space, lower freights, and fewer expenses. Are we here to stand still or are we to move in tbe same direction? It can no longer be pleaded tbat we lack facilities for getting stock away. Tbe railway has reduced the distance to Wellington to a mere nothing. Sheep have already been sent from this district to be frozen in Wellington and shipped to London. This line then is perfectly clear, acd a little combination would enable us to take advantage of it to a considerable extent. On the other hand, we have a complete freezing plaut almost at our doors, and with a, steamer specially fitted up, cargoes of frozen mutton or beef could be sent out of the Waitara almost daily. With these facilities we should be able to take advantage of tbe English trade, and, what we believe will prove to be of no small importance at certain seasons of the year, the Australian trade, and possibly also Southern markets at certain times. Again we ask, ia nothing to be done to take advantage of facilities ? The Wellington people, we know, have their eye on Taranaki mutton and beef ; and the Auckland people have made a proposal with the object of securing trade. That offer on the face of it seems reasonable. No capital is asked for : simply a guarantee to supply so much stock to be frozen, carried, aud sold for the owner at a certain charge. It was said some time ago that a meeting was to be held to consider what should be done. We hope that that meeting will soon be held, for time is of the essence of the project ; that our farmers will show themselves a little less lethargic and move enterprising; and that something practical may immediately result. A little better price for our meat and tallow and other produce would soon infuse wonderful life into this district, enabling farmers to undertake improvements, creating a demand for labor, adding to tlie population, and making all branches of business brisker. We ask, will the farmers move ?