RETURNED COLONISTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3262, 20 October 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

RETURNED COLONISTS.

A CHAT WITH MB DONALD PBASEE.

Special to the New Zealand Times Paluekbton Nobth, October IG. Meeting Mr Donald Fraser, the wellknown pioneer settler of Lower Eangitikei, who has just returned from a run Home, I managed to have a few minutes’ chat with him, and somo of the incidents narrated may be found interesting by readers of The Times. I remaiked that I could scarcely believe he had actually been Homo, as it seemed such a very short time since I had seen him in Palmerston. “ X will not bo six months away till the 27th inst.,” was his reply. “ X took passage Home by the same steamer in which the Bisley team and colonial and native contingents went Home, and of course I was with friends and acquaintances, which made quite a pleasant trip.” “And did you have a good time when you were away ?” “I enjoyed the trip altogether very much indeed, and it opened my eyes to a great deal of which I was previously unaware.” “How long, Mr Fraser, since you first left Horne ?" “ It is 57 years since I left Scotland for New Zealand, and I was only six years old then, so you may imagine I know very little about the Old Country at that age j indeed, X may say that X remember nothing at all, so to speak.” You were present at the Jubilee, of course ? ” “ Yes. I saw that wonderful procession. I had a very good position to see what took place. But to my mind the most wonderful and amazing sight of all was the illuminations at Spithoad on the night after the great naval review. That was a sight to bo seen but onee in a life-time, and never to bo forgotten. It is simply impossible to describe it.” Did you meet many New Zealanders at Home ?” “ Yes, a good fow. X don’t suppose you ever saw u more astonished man than Donald Grant, formerly of Kairanga, near Palmerston, when I stopped a cab in which 1 was driving round Inverness, and alighting touched him on the back. He asked mo had I come out of the earth, so taken aback was he, at my unexpected appearance. We spent the afternoon and evening together, Mr Grant acting as my guide. I couldn't have got hold of a better one.” “I believe there was a Wanganui contingent at Horae at Jubilee Time—a number of old residents of that town forming a kind of travelling party of their own. Did you meet any of them ? ” “ I met Mr James Jhaird and Mr James Tawse, both of whom wore having a very enjoyable trip.” “ Any others ? ” I stayed a short time with Mr Donald Smith, formerly with Moore and Currie, of Bushy Park, near Kai Iwi. He is living in Scotland, and appears quite contented to remain there. You remember ho had a fine piece of swamp near Waitotara. I also visited Mr W. Napier, formerly manager for Taylor and Watt’s, Westmere estate, neat Wanganui. He is very comfortable on his own farm in Scotland. And you remember Mr Mclntosh, a grainer and decorator in Wanganui some 30 odd years ago. He was afterwards in Martou for a good few years. I went to see him. He is very feeble indeed, and I should scarcely bo surprised to hoar of his death occurring at any time. He is well advanced in years. 1 met a great many whom I had known in the colony, but whose names 1 cannot think of just at present. They were all very pleased to see me, and I found it difficult to get away from their most hearty hospitality. I had a very pleasant cabin companion on the way both going and returning, in Mr Berry, editor of the New Zealand Herald. Like me he wont Home by directsteamer, and returned via Frisco. I did not see much of him at 1 Home, however, as ho always seemed to make straight for the newspaper offices, while my investigations lay in a different direction.” “ Did you learn much about the frozen meat trade when at Home “Yes, a good deal; but I don't wish to say much about the result of my enquiries until the report of the Government expert, Mr Cameron, has been made public. After that I shall probably have something to communicate.” “ Did you see much of Mr Alex, Bell ?” “I both saw and heard a good deal about his connection with the frozen meat trade, for which he has done a great deal. X was given to understand that he was about to sell out bis interest in his various shops and returning to the colony. 1 should imagine he must have done very well by his venture, and moat certainly he deserves some substantial reward for the way he has worked to push the interests of New Zealand frozen meat.” “Is there still the strong prejudice against the meat at Homo by somo consumers and the general public ?” “ There is no prejudice whatever against it that I could learn; but the fact is that almost everywhere it is being sold as Hnglish or Scotch mutton, as the case may be.”

“ Then I suppose some people must be making a lot of money out of it “You are right. A great many people are making and have made money out of it. And there is still lots of money in it. In fact, I don’t mind telling you that if I had to make a fresh start in life, and circumstances compelled me to work for somebody else, I don’t see anything as good as making a start at Home in a shop selling New Zealand frozen mutton. I wouldn’t be a bit afraid to try it, after what I saw, and I am certain I would do well and make money." “Then you think New Zealand mutton can still hold its own ? ’’

“ Hold its own, yes, easily, against any other that I saw."

“ Did you see any of the River Plate mutton ? ’’

“ Yes, and I can tell you it is not in it at all compared with that from New Zealand. Both in quality and appearance New Zealand mutton is superior. I should say our pastures are better, and not long since they had a plague of locusts over there which laid waste a large area of country, l am quite sure New Zealand can hold her own, but I am also sure that the export trade will have to be placed on a different basis from what it is at present.” “In what way?" “ Well, that’s just what I don’t wish to refer to just now. As I said before, X prefer to wait till I see what the Government expert at Home has to say on the matter. But of this I am convinced, that the producers will have to put their bands in their pockets in order to re-organise the present system of export, distribution, and sales. That it will pay them to do so, 1 have not the slightest doubt whatever. As big a thing as it is now, it will assume much larger proportions before long, and the time must come when the producers in the Colony must have a larger proportion of the proceeds than it now has, if the thing is gone the right way about. No doubt, IVIr Cameron will have something to say on this phase of the subject in his official report. Generally speaking, I may gay that, in my opinion, the producers will have to send some capable men as representatives Home to look after theirinterests, push the trade, and get more of the profits

diverted to themselves than at p/oscnh I suppose Mr Aler. Bell has had .as much practical experience in connect! m with frozen meat as any Mew Zealander. He appears to have got the whole thing at his fingers ends. 0 “ I suppose you saw some splendid meat at Home ? ”

“ The very finest beef I saw was some chilled Canadian beef. Kxpeits admitted it was first class/*

“ Did you visit any of the Agricultural and Pastoral Associations* Shows ? ”

“ I was at the Koyal Highland Society's Show held in Glasgow/* “ I suppose it made our Mew Zealand shows appear very insignificant in comparison ? *' “ *Vith the exception of Highland cattle, which, of course, wo do not have in Mew Zealand, bo fai as the other exhibits were concerned, I saw better in shows at Christchurch/* “Is that so ? This will surprise a good many/* •* No doubt, but it is perfectly true. Ihe shows which X have seen in Christchurch would compare favourably with the show of the Koyal Highland Society which I saw when in Glasgow a few months ago, and I think it is something for New Zealand to be proud of. I also visited the Koyal Society's Show held at Manchester, which i?, I believe, the best show held in Great Britain. That, of course, is on an immense scale, rather difficult to realise, and is a wonderful exhibition.

“ Did you inquire much as to the condition of agriculturists at Home ? ” What I aid ascertain was that much as rents have come down of late years, they will have to bo reduced a great deal yet before things find their level. The landowners are not the moneyed class at Home now, as they used to bn. The wealthy classes comprise chiefly the merchant princes, and those engaged in the liquor traffic, such as brewers, distillers, &o.” " Did you inquire at all as to the condition of the small farmers and the labouring classes ? ” “No, I had neither time noropportumty to do so. X had but a short time at Home altogether, and there were a great many places to go to, and a groat many people to visit in that time.” , “You returned by way of the Frisco route, I believe ? " “Yes, and I travelled a good deal in America, after leaving Now York. I visited Boston, Philadelphiaa, Albany, and also managed to take a run to Niagara and Salt Lake City. I enjoyed this poition of my trip very much.” “ And you feel sure New Zealand can hold her own in the matter of her products ? ” “ I certainly think so. As regards her frozen meat trade, it is capable of almost limitless development, but certain things will require to bo done, towards the cost of which the producers will have to contribute, and as I said before, it will pay them to do so. I really don’t think this colony need fear the competition of other countries very much in the way of the export trade in frozen mutton. Had I had more time at my disposal I should have visited the La Plata district and seen for myself its capabilities and prospects. But my train is just starting, so I must bo off. After Mr Cameron has dealt with this question, which ic would, I presume, be part of his duty to investigate and report upon, 1 shall be prepared to express my ideas on the subject. Producers are at a decided disadvantage at present in not getting their fair proportion of actual value; or, in other words, the dealers and middlemen have the lion’s share. What must be done must be towards an improvement in the existing methods of distribution, sale, and the extension of the trade.

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