THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1468, 16 February 1886, Page 3

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

TO the editor.

Sir, —Will you give me space in your paper to say a few words regarding the above subject. I think the time has now come when every owner ot land in this country ought to consider very gravely this very important question—What are we going to do with our sheep 1 Hitherto we have had a great dependence on our wool for remuneration, but the low prices this season have taught us that we will have to give more attention to breeding carcases. There is a market in England, and ever will be, for mutton. It is not paying now to send Home under the present circumstances, and I do think it is our own fault that such circumstances exist. We have a gentleman in our midst—Mr Postlethwaite—to whom I certainly think every owner of sheep, whether great or small, ought to be thankful for the great interest he has taken when at Horae in this very important subject. lam aware that he is a man greatly interested, but I do thoroughly believe that if Mr Postlethwaite's scheme is put in motion it will confer a permanent boon on every landowner in this country. I may ask : Is Mr Postlethwaite to take all the reponsibility of this important scheme ? Why do not some of the sheep-farmers in this district rally round him, and try and get this Company floated at Home 1 I do believe in what Mr Postlethwaite has said, and if this concern was floated to-morrow I would not be afraid to take a few shares in it. We all know the number ot nibbles that have to come out of our meat before it reaches the consumer. They all have to be paid. Why not start a market to deal directly with Hew Zealand and do away with these middle-men, who all have a profit? Why not stand by Mr Postlethwaite and push his project into existence, and, instead of dealing with so many Horae agencies, let us be our own agents and deal directly with the consumer 1 I have not spoken to Mr Postlethwaite on this subject, I have only read his letters, but they made an impression on me at the time that his scheme is the only way we will have to deal with our meat. It may be Mr Postlethwaite’s intention to call a public meeting on this subject. If so, 1 hope every squatter in the district, and small sheep-farmer also, will attend. It is true the New Zealand Shipping Company reduced the freight on frozen meat; but if they took it Home free it would not pay the producer under the present terms. Trusting that Mr Postlethwaite’s scheme may be put into existence, as I thoroughly believe in it, and that he will receive all the support I think he deserves, I am, etc., John Thatcher. Woodbury, February 13, 1886.