Public Meeting.

Poverty Bay Independent, Volume I, Issue 88, 19 December 1885, Page 2

Public Meeting.

MARKET FOR LOCAL PRODUCE. About fifty people met Mr Rees in Ferris’ Auction Mart on Thursday evening for the purpose of discussing the practicability of a project for exporting our surplus stock and produce to a suitable and profitable market. His Worship the Mayor (Mr Allan McDonald) occupied the chair, and stated that a number of gentlemen had met a few evenings ago, but several of them had been engaged in the Supreme Court, and the meeting had to be adjourned. He was sorry to say that such was still the case, and he himself did not know the minute he might be sent for. Mr Rees would explain the particulars and lay the subject fully before the meeting. The object was a very important one to the whole district —namely, to find a remunerative market for the surplus produce and fat stock of the district. They could all see that the thing, could not be for Mr Rees’ gain, as he had no fat stock to get rid of. All he (the speaker) could say —and he thought all those present would agree with him—was, that if Mr Rees could show any good scheme whereby the thingcould be brought to a successful and practical issue, he would receive the hearty support of all. The following gentlemen and settlers had signed the requisition to call the meeting : Charles Evans, A. McDonald, Geo. Scott, A. C. Arthur, A. McKenzie, C. A. DeLautour, J. E. Espie, Charles Westrupp, G. L. Sunderland, Stewart R. Stewart, W. K. Chambers, Andrew Reeves, W. H. Tucker, P. Barker, and S. Locke. These gentlemen had agreed to support a measure which, if it benefitted them, must benefit the whole country. He would now call upon Mr Rees to explain his views upon the subject. Mr Rees said he was certainly sorry to see so few present ; but at the same time it did not follow that because they were few in number they could not transact important business. All great events had generally been started by a few energetic men, and the importance of the subject could not be measured by the attenuance. The objects of the meeting were very plain and simple. It was to find a suitable market for the surplus fat stock and produce of the settlers of this district. The place had been going ahead very rapidly lately, and their sheep and cattle had been rapidly increasing, but the increase in wealth had not been proportionate or half as rapid as it might have been provided we had a market which would receive the products of the soil. If we had mountains of gold in the place, it would do us no good if we had no exchange for it, and a thing was only valuable so far as it could be brought into use. In this district, which was one of the finest in the Australian Colonies, there must soon be an enormous increase of produce and prosperity. With a climate, soil, position, and facilities of access, which could not be excelled, the place must, before long, become enormously developed. Nothing in the world could prevent it. Whether they produce, crops or cattle, it would be entirely useless unless they found a proper and remunerative outlet or market for it. The plan was easy of attainment, and there need be little expense o; . attending it. As he did not intend going into the broader and far wider principles involved in the question, he would at the present time simply deal wifh the question cf stock. Gisborne itself was but a small place, and could consume but a very small portion of the produce of this large and productive district. One large station would mare than sunblv ti e whole town.

Consequently they must look outside for a market. The annual increase of sheep alone was several thousands, and the increase was so rapid that people could not keep pace with it unless they found some outlet for it. Auckland was the nearest and most natural market they could look to, aud he had no hesitation in saying that we could easily send to that place fully too head of cattle, and 500 sheep a week, which would mean a profit of fully to coine into this district weekly. Just think what even that meant. No matter how small or great the squatter was, he could send either his one, or his too sheep and at once receive the money for his produce. But this was simply one feature of the thing, one part of the benefit attending upon such a scheme which he would propose. In the slaughter of such a large number of sheep and cattle, other industries must follow, such as fellmongery tannery, soap works, candle works, tallow melting, glue and size works, and many other things which would find employment for a large number of people, and provide a mine of wealth and progress to the whole district. Some time since he had formulated a plan whereby it was sought to couple the consumer with the producer, and thus open up .a large field of general usefulness and benefit, not alone to this place, but. to the whole of these colonies. With that view shops had been opened in Auckland upon the co-operative principles, and they had been found to answer so well that numerous applications had been made for their extension. It was by this means that he wished to provide a market for our produce. The plan could be extended to any length, and both the consumer and the producer would benefit alike, as they would all share in the profits of the business. There were plenty present who had had experience of the expense and risk of shipping live stock away. In Napier, and other places, they had recourse to the Home markets through the ' freezing process, but after, much trouble I and risk, all that the producer got for his | meat, under the most favorable circum- , stances, was from id to lj£d per lb. Now look at Gisborne. Small as the place is, at the present time, it supported five or six butchers’ shops, and gave a good profit. What, then, could they do in a large centre like Auckland, where the consumption was so great ? It was by thus bringing the consumer and producer together that he hoped to produce the desired object. Men like Mr A. C. Arthur and E. Cameron knew the risks and loss attending the export of live stock, and the latter especially had stated sometime back that he had actually sustained a monetary loss of over £I,OOO through the same. No doubt a number of those present would remember a dinner being given a short time ago at the Masonic Hotel for the purpose of testing some mutton which had been kept 42 days. This meat had been treated by a process known as Bennett’s mode of preserving fresh meat. He must say that all acknowledged that they had never tasted anything better in their Hyes. Some meat which had been preserved by the same process had actually been sent to the Fiji and brought back again without having' suffered in the least, and was found to be still quite fresh and wholesome, and no one could tell that it had actually been killed over 100 days. The owners of. this process had signified their perfect willingness to act in concert with those present, and it was by this means that he proposed to preserve the carcasses for shipment to the Auckland markets. Fie would nnw read a statement which had been compiled on the most reliable authority, and was, he had been informed by those most capable of judging, well within the bounds. By this statement it would be seen that by carrying out this proposal they would receive an immediate benefit of £i, per head on cattle and 5s 6d on sheep. Estimated difference of results in sale of meat between the present and proposed systems. “ A,” old system; “B,” new system. Cost.

Total £0 19 0 Net profit, 4s 6d. He had been informed that £6 was a very fair price for a good steer, and that £3 10s was a fair average of the usual cost of freight and charges. He had also been informed that on one occasion Mr Cameron lost no less than 20 out of 24 head of cattle he shipped. The present scheme showed an immediate profit of some £4 2s per head, which on 100 beasts meant some L4OO odd. Now, if this was anything like an approximation, here was an enormous profit which could be at once effected. Up to the present time the great drawback to all progress had been the want of unanimity which had existed amongst all classes. If they would but act together everyone must benefit in the general progress. At present one half of the farmers were knocking their cattle on the head because they could do no good with them, ' and they were not worth the rearing. But this need go on no longer, as by the adoption of this plan all could make an enormous profit, and it would also give such an impetus to this beautiful district as to al once and for ever dispel

the dearth and dulness which was now oppressing them, The townspeople could not possibly hope to exist without the country, and the prosperity of the country people meant prosperity to the ownspeople, and so they must put awry the petty animosities which had hither o unfortunately to some extent, existtd between the two. Even the lawyers would benefit in the general advantage, (laughter). The present plan would provide a ready money market upon the surest foundation, with mutual pre fit to all. What had hitherto kept the place back ? Why simply the want of a ] roper market for its produce., The resources of the place, in the direction indicated, were almost unlimited, and all that was required was unanimity. Then there y ould be prosperity for all. With this intention, and hope, he asked all to join in making the. fullest inquiry as to the feasibility of the project. He courted the fullest inquiry, as tne more the subject was enquired into, the greater would be the support it would receive. He would now ask them to appoint a committee of the gentlemen who had signed the requisition, with power to, add to their number, simply to inquire into the matter, and to test the figures placed before them. He himself felt perfectly assured that the project meant a mine of wealth to the place, and a large and steady influx of wealth and capital to the whole district, with corresponding happiness and comfort to all—both worker and capitalists. They must remember that the harbor was scoffed and jeered at some short time ago, but it had nevertheless become an established fact. With the facilities which this would afford, and when the land question had been finally placed upon a satisfactory footing (an event which would shortly be accomplished), nothing whatever could prevent this favored district from becoming one of the most prosperous ones in the whole of the Australasian * Colonies. By the proposed means alone | could they hope to introduce anew era of prosperity, and lay the foundation for the * future happiness of millions. (Loud I and prolonged applause.) He would I now move the following resolutions ; but | the first three were merely formal, and it 1 was the fourth one which he particularly ; wished to direct attention to. If the [ committee was formed he would take upon i himself to call them together, and he would I also exert himself to collect further data ;to lay before the next meetjng. He would [ now ask the Chairman to move the fol- :• lowing ;— 1. That the settlers and farmers of this ■; district be invited to join the New Zealand ■ Co-operative Land and Labor Company j (Limited), for the purpose of opening and i sustaining shops in Auckland, and in the 1 suburbs of Auckland, for the sale of meat | and other produce. I 2. That a sufficient number of shares, say 5.000, be subscribed for by the settlers ; and farmers in this district to be paid for partly in money and partly in kind, at the 5 option of the intending shareholder. | 3. That fix e directors be appointed from *. among the farmers and settlers to aid in * the local management of the Company. •i 4. That meanwhile a committee of the * gentlemen named in the requisition, together with Messrs Joyce, Stevenson, and Dickson, be appointed to enquire into the advisability of such steps being taken and as to the feasability of the plan proposed : such committee to report at an adjourned meeting to be held this day fortnight at the same time and place ; and to report also as to the best and most equitable plan . for the purchasing of stock from the pro- : ducers. , , . .. . . j Mr G. Scott had identified himself with 'the scheme, and had much pleasure in seconding the resolution. He would also propose to add the name of Mr Gannon j to the committee (hear, hear). Mr Rosie thought Mr Rees had overj looked the town of Gisborne. Why try and benefit Auckland people so much and I not apply the same rule to our own town. Why not start these co-operative stores here' as well as elsewhere? He would propose that the names of Messrs Joyce, Scott, and Stevenson, as representatives of the town interests, be added to the committee. The resolutions were then put and carried with acclamation. Mr Gannon had much pleasure m proposing a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Rees for his address that night, and also for the trouble and labor he had devoted to the subject. Few had either the ability to explain or the application to go so thoroughly into the question. The subject was one of the largest importance to the district, as the one drawback to the development of the place was the great want of a market. If this could be obtained by the means pointed out by Mr Rees that gentleman would deserve the gratitude of all alike, and would confer an enormous benefit upon the Bay. He (the speaker) was highly gratified to see so many influential names on the requisition. They all knew that no one was more inert or careless than the country farmer, and the present state of affairs only tended to largely increase the want of energy which woolgrowing fostered. Mr Rees had mapped out the course, and it now only remained for them to follow. He had sincere pleasure in proposing a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Rees (applause and hear, hear).

Mr Weston seconded the proposition. His Worship the Mayor, had been through and through these islands, and he was convinced that this was out and out the laest district in the whole of these colonies. All they wanted was a good market, and there was nothing could prevent them going ahead rapidly. They had now got the money for the harbor and by the time tha. was completed he had little doubt but what they would be able to come up to Mr Rees’ figures and export 100 head of cattle and 500 sheep weekly. He thought Mr Rees’ plan deserved the greatest consideration, and he himself should accord it his heartiest support. Great credit was due to Mr Rees for his efforts in this direction, and he was sure the meeting would join with him in according a warm vote of thanks to that gentleman (loud and continued applause). The motion was then carried unanimously. In responding, Mr Rees expressed himself as highly gratified for the attention and support accorded him. , He looked upon the p-esent event as the inauguration of a new era for not alone New Zealand, but far beyond—an era which would open up a mine of unioid k>r many thousands who were now dragging out an existence amidst squalor, misery, and want. It would open up honest and remunerative labor to untold thousands, and the plan must succeed, as it was based tipnn honesty, right, and thrift, and all

I ssqs must benefit in its development. *n conclusion, he felt he must publicly thank Mr Allan McDonald for his kindness in presiding there that night. It was in thorough keeping with all that gentleman's actions where the public interests were involved. Mr McDonald was eve: ready and anxious to help any beneficial object, and never spared either his time or hijPmeans where he could do any good (hear, hear). He felt sure the meeting would accord a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman (loud applause). The meeting then broke up.

A. Prime cost of fiOOlbs steer .. .. £0 0 0 Shipping freight and charges .. 3 10 0 Total .. .. .. £9 10 0 B. Prime cost of bullock .. £G 0 0 Treating and royalty .. .. 0 Killing, freight, cartage, and cost 10 6 of sale .. 1 5 0 Total . £7 15 6 Receipts. A. Sale of steer, 8001hs nt 20s .. £8 0 0 Net los*. £1 10s. B. 7501 bs meat at 3d per lb .. £9 7 3 Hide and offal 1 0 0 Total £10 7 6 Net profit, £2 12s. Sheep. Cost. A. Prime cost .. . £0 10 0 Freight and charges .. 0 3 6 Total . £0 13 0 B. Prime cost .. .. £0 10 0 Killing, royalty, &c.. .. 0 2 6 Freight, cartage, and sXle .. .. o 2 0 Total .. £0 14 6 Receipts. A. Sale note 12 6 Net loss, Is. B. 701bs meat at 3d . £0 17 6 Pelt and offal .. 0 1 G