CHRISTCHURCH MEAT COMPANY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVII, Issue 163, 14 July 1903, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH MEAT COMPANY.

TO THB EDITOR.

Sir,—ln your issue of July 2nd you notioe the closing of the Pioton Freezing Works for the season. After giving a short instructive statement from the manager you proceed to criticise/ rather severely, the farmers of Marlborough. The statements of the manager are all very well so far as they go, but there is often more worth seeing behind the stage than appearsTn front of the footlights. In your criticism you state, "It certainly does not seem as though the farmers of Mavlborough district are treating the Ohristehurch Meat Company fairly. We know that there is a general idea amongst the formers that they should be treated the same as the Canterbury farmers, but when they will not grow the quantity or quality of stock it is clear that they cannot expect to receive Canterbury treatment." There is an old adage, and a wise one — " Never prophecy unless you know"—and I think it is just as well never to criticise unless you know. Now, re fair treatment. I think that sentence should be turned end for end. It is the farmers who are not receiving fair treatment; but when did farmers get fair treatment ? Why never since Kain was foolish enough to stick his spade in Mother Earth and tnrn up tke first sod. What a host of trouble he turned up with it. After this little bit of philosophy I will pro ceed to state my case. Two years ago we (Lissaman Bros) had a line of batween 700 and 800 half-bred 4-tooth wetkers. When nt co go off they were offered to the Meat Company's buyer. The best offer he gave us was 12s 6d to 13s for the prime ones. The latter price was his limit, no matter what the quality ot the sheep might be. Of course the offer was declined. We then offered them to a Canterbury storo buyer, who came and saw a sample which we got in for him. He gave us' 15s 6d on the place for. the line; no rejects; and 13s for our 2-tooths. The sheep were driven from here to Adding ton, but unfortunately they happened to meet the first fall of the season's market of Is 6d per head ; but in spite of that, after travelling ; that distance and being short of feed, ! they brought,l6s 6d at auction. Working on the above figures, which I guarantee correct, at the time the sheep were offered to the Meat Company, had they been-in Canterbury the line was worth 18s (I am referring to the^i tooths), and that without allowing ' anything for loss of condition in driving such a distance. . Last year our neighbor, Mr Melhuish, had an exactly similar line of sheep, but I think his sheep were better than ours when they went away. Both mobs, were bred on Upton Downs, but a great difference in age. lam not sure if Mr Melhuish offered his sheep to the Company or not, but I think they were, and Mr Melhuish told me the best offer he had up here was 12s 6d for the fats. He, like us, refused to sell at -that price, and sent tho line to Canterbury. At the Cenway the line was purchased by a Canterbury buyer at 13s 4d, driven on to, Oulverden, offered there just to test the market, as they were sold again before they reached Culverden. At auction he wa3 offered 13s Bd. The auctioneer stated they were the best line of sheep that had been put in the yards that season,, and were the best line he had ever seen from Marlborough. The difference in price brought by Mr Melhuish's sheep and our own -is accounted for by the general fall in prices during the year. The above instances are facts which will take a good deal of. pulling to pieces. Now, for another instance, which I cannot, state as a fact, but I have reason to believe ifc is trne. Two years ago a sheepfarmer in the district had some 2000 store wethers to dispose of. He offered to fatten them if the Company would give him within 3d per head of the price he could get from the Canterbury buyers. He actually offered to lose 3d par head on his sheep to patronise the Company rather than lot his sheep go away, but the Company ! would not meet him, consequently he called in a Canterbury buyer who took the line at Od per head more than the Company would give for them when fat. Now, Sir, in face of the above statements, can yon or any other man say we farmers are being treated fairly by the Company. I trow not. Now for the latter part of the above quotation. At the commencement of this season a deputation of farmers met Mr Anderson and obtained a definite promise from him that we should get Canterbury rates this year, but I am sorry to state Mr Anderson has not kept faith with üb. I understand all the Company's meat leaves New Zealand under the same brand ;. therefore for our prime sheep why should we not get the same price as for " prime Canterbury?" As to the "quantity" of stock, we all know that thousands upon thousands leave Marlborough for the South every year, and they are the best and strongest of the sheep which | should go through the works here, and would if the owners *got "fair treatment." Up the Wairau Valley and its tributaries there are thousands of acres of first-class fat- i tening land still lying in its native state. Do you suppose that the men up there do not yet understand on which side their ■■" bread is buttered?" 1 have found the Marlborough men just as hard-headed, and as hardfisted, too, aa any other men in New Zf*'and or .elsewhere. T^iey are as keen after the " almighty dollar," and can grip it just as tightly when caught, as other sheep-farmers, and when they see it will pay them to grow artificial feed and break up all their ploughable land and fatten their stores instead of selling them as now, they will do so. It is not a matter of sentiment, bat £. s. d. Now for " quality." I have been sheep-farming in New Zealand for over 20 years, 18 of which were spent in Canterbury, in various capacities. During my colonial experience I have seen a good deal of some of the best flocks of New Zealand, also Australia. Therefore I think I may be allowed to pass an opinion. So far as I have seen of the large flocks of Marlborough I can honestly state that they can hold their own with any other flocks in New Zealand. A Marlborough gentleman holds the •world's championship for wool, obtained at the Chicago Exhibition, and did not another Marlborough gentleman take the sconring championship in Canterbury last season ? One thing I have noticed about many of the Marlborough sheep, viz., they are rather fine in the bono, which accounts for them being a bit on the small side, but that should not alter their "quality," as you know "good stuff is nearly always wrapped up in small parcels." The cause, I think, of their fineness of bone, is many of the merino flecks of Marlborough have a good deal of the Gibson strain of blood, which sheep, as a rule, are rather small and fine boned. If I am right in my opinion, this defect, if it can be called such, can only be remedied slowly, by the introduction of larger sheep and by careful culling and selection ; or it may be caused by the pastures of Marlborough, which do not produce sufficient bone. If the latter is the cause I do not see how we can' remedy it. Ido not know if liming our pastures would assist. Someone who is more versed in chemical analysis than I will probably enlighten us on the subject. Without going any further I think I have made it plain why the supplies ran out. Now that the sheep-farmers of Marlborough have formed ft Union, I hope our President, Mr Vavasour, will call a meeting of the farmers before the commencement

ef next season to discuss-' a Means of obtaining a bstter price for our fat sheep and lamba. There ay© several " doors" open to us—either to start a co operative freezing company ; to invite another company to start here by guaranteeing so many sheep per season; to try and obtain the services of one of the Union Company's boats, weekly or fortnightly, to run fat sheep and stores down to Lyttelton. Sheep brought from Chatham Islands fetcn better prices at Addington than we can obtain here. Trusting I have not taken up too much of your space, ana that some more able pen than mine will champion this cause.—l am, &c , Frank Lissaman