FROZEN MEAT INDUSTRY.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1057, 9 July 1883, Page 2

FROZEN MEAT INDUSTRY.

TO THE EDITOR* Sir, —Having noticed a letter signed “Progress” in your columns, with reference to the frozen meat industry on this coast, I think that it is to the interest of every settler in this district to look into the matter, and either form a company in the district or otherwise take shares up in . the Wellington Company and give them some inducement to erect slaughtering yards either in Wanganui or Patea, or both, which I think would be required, as this is one of the chief fattening districts in the colony. Every settler well knows the trouble and loss of driving fat stock any distance, besides the deterioration of the quality of meat through driving. If the settlers would only take sufficient interest in the matter to induce the Wellington Company to take the matter in hand, I have,no doubt that one of the Shipping Companies would place one of the coasting steamers in the trade to convey the meat from this coast to Wellington. The Wellington Company is of no use iii this district at present, as settlers cannot drive their stock, nor ship them alive, to be fit for the Home market. So that the only chance they have of deriving any benefit from the frozen meat industry, is to form a Company in the district, or join the Wellington Company. Further, it behoves every settler to take part in inducing and encouraging it to the utmost, as I consider that the only -market we have to rely upon will be the Home market for our stock, as there is no market in the colony at present for fat stock. Every settler is only too well aware that the Auckland market is practically closed against them, as the prices ruling there are so low that it is impossible to send stock from this district at present without a great loss to the exporter. Another great advantage that would be derived from shipping home, would be that settlers would be in a position either to sell or send Home on their own account as their stock got fat, which of itself would be a great benefit, as in place of fattening one lot of cattle or sheep, as at present, they could turn off two or three lots in the course of a year, and would always have a sure market for any prime quality at a very ranch advanced rate.—-Yours, &c. July 7. Whenuakura,