The Premier and the Farmers.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8150, 25 November 1905, Page 5

The Premier and the Farmers.

. It is generally admitted: that the rSteezing. process andthe-direct steamer's nave been the greatest factors in ike prosperity of tbe farming «rommunity prior to the introduction of XmtteV factories, and it says- little for friaat theLioeral Herald caE% "the Great Intuitional Son of Natu-se1" (the Promier) that he wasone or the- greatest opponents to the establishment of a-direct steamer service and the encouragement of the frozen meat process when- the question was first mooted in Parliament. The Kangitikei Advocate points out that Mr beddon, speaking in the House in ISB3 in opposition to" a proposal to establish steam service with England, said :— " I shall vote as often as I possibly can with a view of frustrating the attempt that is made to favour the interests of a certain product of this country at*the expense of the people who are to be taxed. . . I feel sure the masses of the country will have their eyes opened very shortly. . . and if this freezing process goes on to excess, as it will go on, I say there will be a revulsion of feeling on the paft of those who have to return members to the House." Our contemporary continues ;—" But while in ISS3 we exported no dairy produce, and the • value of our total frozen meat export the previous year amounted to only £19,339, the freezing process was beginning to assist ua in developing our resources. And ever since there has been an increasing exporfc,.eual)ling the colony to stand almost continuous mismanagement and extravagance. In 1903 the value of our export of produce which could not have been sent out of the colony but for ' this freezing process ' which the ' intuitional ' protested against so strongly, amounted to no less than £4,710,103. In what position would New Zealand be but for the results which have followed the successful development of 'this freezing process?" And where would Scddonism be ?"