The Star. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 1887. MEAT PRESERVING.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume IX, Issue 1708, 22 August 1887, Page 2

The Star. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 1887.

MEAT PRESERVING.

It is understood that tbe New Zealand Freezing Company have decided to shift their meat-tinning plant from Waitarato Auckland. The chief reasons assigned are — First, that the most profitable part of the meat preserving business consists in selling the prime joints for local consumption, and tinning down only the inferior parts of the carcase. In order to do this to the greatest advantage, it is advisable to have the slaughter-yards near to a largo centre of population. Secondly, because the company's establishment feeing a.t> pxesent, divided between Auckland and Waitara the cost of management is exceptionally heavy, and by a concentration of forces it is hoped" there may be a reduction of cost under that head. These reasons have been deemed sufficient to justify the dosing of tbe tinning works at Waitara. The question the settlers in this district will speedily have to face will be this — " What must we do to replace the establishment?" We learn on good authority that during the past twelve months the Waitara works have put through an average of 102 head of cattle a week, or say 3300 head in the year, exclusive of a large number of sheep. The latter have been killed, and about twothirds of the best parts of each carcase have been sent in bags to Auckland by steamer, as we are informed, ab the rate at about 10s per ton for freight. The great safiDg as between tbis rate of freight on the ordinary charge on three head of live cattle, estimated to dress a ton of butcher's meat, which would cost £2 13s 6d in freight, is striking". However, ifc seems that this advantage, together with tbe reduced risk of shipment on dead as against live stock was not sufficient to induce the company to continue meat tinning at Waitara. With a rapidly increasing surplus of meat to be exported in some shape or form from Hawera county, it is certain that graziers will be forced into providing some outlet for their stock which shall take the place of the Waitara works. Within tbe past two years the area of land under artificial grasses in Hawera and Patea counties has increased from about 130,000 to close on 160,000 acres ; the greatest part of that increase baviug taken place in 1886. With new land coming

into grass in this immediate district at the rate of some 15,000 or 20,000 acres of mor& a year, the nnnua\ output oi farm produce, more especially of dairy produce and of fat stock, must rapidly increase. Last year the Waitara works alone dealt with more than 100 head of fat cattle weekly, exclusive of large exports from tbe district of fat cattle and sheep to Wellington, Westport, and Aucfclanl. Two projects have been mooted. One is that a company shall be formed to take over and continue the tinning works at Waitara, and shall continue, as at present, to ship best joints of meat to Auckland by steamer, or to Wellington by train, according to the markets or the weather may best suit The other is the oft repeated proposal to establish a local meat-tinning works. A gentleman from this district who visited Hawke's Bay last autumn, on his return assured us that the head of the firm of Nelson Brothers at Hastings expressed the opinion that Hawera graziers ought to have a lecal meat factory. That meat was of better quality, and was more readily procured in lots to suit the daily requirements of the factory, if the works were situated as near to the centre of supply as possible. And he added "if the settlers near Hawera can guarantee to supply meat, capital can be obtained to start the works. The best and simplest guarantee for capitalists would be fur tbe settlers to subscribe a portion, say a third of the capital required." There are some, however, who contend that it would be best and least expensive to secure a lease of the Waitara works They argue that catttle cm be driven to Waitara for 2s per head. The hide and offal is thus carried to a port on four legs almost for nothing ; and the advantages which induced the Auckland company to start there would be gained by the settlers if they took over the works as they might now do. They deny that a beast appreciably loses weight on the journey, or that the quality of the meat need suffer. But it is an established fact that a thriving bulioek frequently gains over 21b in carcase weight per day on good feed. It surely wastes at that rate, or often very much more, when travelling or when awaiting slaughter at yards after a journey. If animals sent from Hawera to Waitara were kept on the average on)y ten ctajs from the time of leaving their pasture till they were slaughtered at Waitara. this would represent a loss of 20lb per carcase on each beast. The quality of the meat as certainly suffers. In addition to this there is the loss of the refuse blood and bone manures, which must some day be returned to tbe soil if the fertility of the pastures is to be maintained. Then the Wellington dead meat trade is much more accessible from Hawera or Normanby than from Waitara. These and many other arguments seem to us to speak very strongly in favor of local tinning works. Let the business be started in a small way. When greater quautities ot beef and mutton are pressed on the iocal works than can be disposed of, depend upon it the directors will be willing enough to extend their operations. The price to be paid does not concern anyone at the present time. In days gone by, every third or fourth year, large numbers of stock were boiled down ; with tallow at present prices, that source is practically closed to us. There is now a large surplus stock ; next summer it will assuredly be larger than ever. With Wellington and Auckland markets glutted by everincreasing supplies of meat from the Waikato and Gisborne, or from the Wairarapa and Manawatu respectively, this local surplus must be dealt with at market or current rates — i.e., at prices that will be ruled by Auckland, Wellington, or finally by London markets. It matters not whether the company proposes to give Bs, 10s, or 12s per lOOlbs., it must end by giving market value, whatever that may be. Auckland and Wellington buyers, either for tinning or for freezing works, wiU continue to compete, and \\\\\ regulate that. We should bo glad to see the Agricultural and Pastoral Association make a first move in this matter, inviting all interested, whether members of the society or not, to meet and discuss the matter in a practical and friendly spirit of co-operation. If BUch a meeting is to he more successful than others have been, it will be essential that the question of choice of site shall be left to the directors to fix ; though they might fairly consent to select some site within Hawera County.