THE PELORUS GUARDIAN TUESDAY, DECEMBER, 16, 1890. Frozen Meat Trade.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 1, Issue 91, 16 December 1890, Page 2

THE PELORUS GUARDIAN TUESDAY, DECEMBER, 16, 1890. Frozen Meat Trade.

Following- on our remarks on the fruit industry there is also another which is of equal importance to the farmer, and likewise to the country, and that is the enormous trade in frozen meat which has been developed within the last ten years. Farmers at one time had simply to depend on the local markets for what they produced, and that was chiefly butter and potatoes, but since then grain-growing has assumed large proportions, and now we have the frozen meat trade. In course of time we may expect to see a large export trade in fruit added to that of butter and cheese, frozen meat and grain. Generally speaking the large sheep-farmers had the best of it, as there was always a ready market for wool, but the small fanner had many difficulties to contend with in not having an open market for what he could produce. There seems now, however, that the small farmer will be equally as fortunate in having a market for all that can be produced, and he will be enabled to make both ends meet much more readily than heretofore. But this opens up another question, and that is the size of farms to be sold in future, which will enable those who take up land to fully avail themselves of all the channels which are - now opened up by the development of the industries alluded to. It is quite clear that a farmer must have land sufficient to be able to run four or five hundred sheep, this will enable him to dispose of one or two hundred sheep every year in the frozen meat business, and, added to the wool, gives him a good chance of success. In nearly every district in the colony freezing works are being established and it would be strange indeed if Marlborough were at all backward in this respect, seeing the number of sheep which are in the district. In this connection we are glad to notice the entorprizing firm of Messrs (Houston & Go. are taking the initiative in promoting the meat-freezing industry in Marlborough, and they have issued a circular asking the co-operation of the fanners of the district in furthering the object in view. We believe the only difficulty which presents itself is the number of sheep that will be available each year, some 30,000, and if Messrs (Houston & Co can get any guarantee that this number would be supplied it will only be a matter of a very few months when freezing works will be established. It is quite evident that the"" establishment of freezing works in the district would be a great boon to small farmers, as they would be able to dispose of the year’s increase and get good market value at the same time. The freezing works might be erected at Tua Marina, and from thence the frozen mutton could be sent into Picton by train, and shipped on board a direct steamer. It is not every district which has the advantage of having a first-class harbour like that of Picton, and if the fanners of Marlborough are alive to their own interests very little time will be lost in giving the necessary guarantee which will enable Messrs Clouston & Co. to take such further steps as will lead to the establishment of freezing works in the district, and when we will be able to congratulate Picton on not only having direct ships, but also direct steamers. The prosperity of a district as well as that of a country depends on the amount of its production, and we very often hear people bewailing the hard times when the road to prosperity is staring them in the face and crying aloud to Jupiter (the Government), when by co-operating together and putting their united shoulders to the wheel they might he going .along merrily. There could not possibly be a greater future before any country or any district than there is before New Zealand and Marlborough, and it only requires a little enterprise to take full advantage of the channels winch are presented to the people in the export trade of butter, cheese, fruit,- frozen meat, and many other articles of export for which there is a certain market.