Taranaki Herald MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1908. THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13791, 26 October 1908, Page 4

Taranaki Herald MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1908. THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Mr. J. G. Mitchinson, of Gilbert, Anderson and Co., London, who was for many years associated with the meat industry in Canterbury, has been relating to an Auckland Star reporter some important facts and intei'esting' statements concerning the industry. He has spent eighteen months in the Old Country, and was for a while associated with the Manchester Ship Canal Company in calling on the wholesale and retail- butchers in the north and north-west of England to talk over the subject and gain information as to the best means of distributing from Manchester. Manchester, says Mr. Mitchinson, is a port which is not supplied with the quantity of meat that should be sent into the city according to its population, but he is convinced that through the enterprise of the Canal Company there will very soon be a large increase in the quantity of meat shipped into England through Manchester, not only from Australasia, but from the River Plate also. of the Smithfield market, Mr. Mitchinson said that undoubtedly there are too many small consignments sent from New Zealand to the various markets, an/1 these consignments come in competition one against the other. The small line was sold at a reduction of, say, onesixteenth of a penny per pound, , which assists to bring down the price of larger lines. To overcome this drawback he suggested that it would be a great advantage if the freezing companies of the Dominion would pool farmers' small lots for each shipment and send forward shipments on separate bills of lading, to each grade of from 200 to 500 carcases ; that is, separate bills of lading for prime lamb from 28 to 35 pounds, and for prime from 36 to 42, and 42 "and over ; also bills of lading for second quality. The same would apply to mutton. The advantage of having separate bills of lading is that the meat can be placed with the very best buyers for its particular grade. , A big buyer will not look at small lines. The consequence is that

the small lines are sold to buyers who sell perhaps at a reduced price, aud this has the effect of bringing down the price of bigger lines. The small lines thus injure the industry. This appears to be a reasonable argument in favour of co-operation in the meat industry. It may be accepted that the average return for small farmers' lines of meat is smaller than that for large lines, and if by combination the small shippers are likely to obtain higher prices the sooner they try it the better. Speaking of the American Meat Trust, Mr. Mitchinson said he was not sure that it was a trust, though he knew there was a combination, and he believed that the combination would soon be a much greater factor in affecting the price of meat than it is now. He advocates that the combined New Zealand companies should have a representative in the United Kingdom to look after their interests as regards the discharge of vessels, the question of quality, etc., and his visit to New Zealand now is with the object of impressing upon the companies the advantages of.closer combination. In the dairy industry it is a rare exception for farmers to manufacture their own butter. They pool the milk and share the proceeds, the larger quantities of uniform quality thus produced bringing higher prices than if each man acted independently. There seems to be no good reason why similar combination in dealing with meat should not give equally good results. A farmer with, say, fifty lambs to sell cannot expect to secure as good a price for them as would be obtained if his fifty were five hundred. He must combine with his fellows in respect to freezing, shipping, and other minor details, and why not in the more important detail of marketing ? Efficient grading would be a safeguard against the supplier of inferior meat benefiting at the expense of those who supplied the best, just as testing ensures the supplier of the best milk getting the best results. But closer cooperation in tl^ matter of marketing obviously offers substantial advantages to the small farmers whose lines are not large enough to attract the attention* of the large buyers.

Anglers state that the present season is far and away the best experienced since the inception of the Hawer.a Acclimatisation Society. — Star.

The activity that has prevailed m the building trade in Hawera for some months past is still maintained (says the Star). New residences ar© being erected in all parts of the borough.

The charge of bigamy laid against Elijah Trask. who is now in New Ply-> mouth gaol, having been unable to obtain bail, will probably be investigated by Mr H. S. Fitzherbert, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court on Saturday morning.

A fire broke out at Midhirst at 2 o'clock this morning. The shops of Wheeler (Wheelriglit), Smith (blacksmith), and McMahon (saddler) were completely destroyed. The insurances of Wheeler and Smith total £350, and McMahon had a cover of £50. The origin of the fire is unknown. Incendiarism is suspected. — Press telegram.

At a meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce on Thursday last a letter was read from the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, enclosing a copy of the resolution passed by that body protesting against the arrival of the Wellington express train in connection with the framing of the new time-table for the Auckland- Wellington service. The opinion was expressed that^he proposal, if carried into effect, would be a retrograde step, but, in order that full particulars might be obtained before arriving, at a decision, it was resolved to refer the matter to the Railways Committee.

With reference to the proposal of the New Plymouth Borough Council that the old railway line between Leach Street and Baring Terrace should be handed over to the Council, Mr T. Ronayne (General Manager of Railways) writes that he cannot see his way to recommend that the additional piece of land between Leach Street and Hobson Street now asked for by the Council should be included in the valuation previously supplied. If the additional land is required a further sum of £75 is asked for. Mr Ronayne adds that, if the Council is willing to pay the full sum of £675, the Department will restore the Henui bridge to its original condition and accept payment as follows: £375 on April 1, 1909 and £300 on April 1, 1910.

The proprietors of the Auckland Weekly News have excelled themselves in the preparation of their Christmas number, a copy of which is to hand. It is evidently designed to give people abroad an idea of what life in New Zealand is like and what the Dominion has to offer in the way of scenic attractions, and we can imagine no better means of instruction in this respect than this number. The illustrations, of which there are a great number, are chiefly reproductions of photographs, which depict every phase of colonial life, and incidentally show to what perfection the printer's art has attained in New Zealand. Some of the pictures are really magnificent, notably that of the Mitre Peak and Lion Bock, Milford Sound. Another very beautiful view is that of the entrance to Whangaroa Harbours. Two handsome pictorial supplements accompany the number, which as a whole is perhaps the best Messrs Wilson and Horton have yet turned out.

<Yn application has been made to the Taranaki County Council for the provision of a polling booth at Jvaimiro for the County Council election.

Tho Blind Institute at Auckland benefits to the extent of £1300 by tno will of the late Mrs Knox, who also leit £1000 to Dr. Barnardo's Homes.

Tho Now Zealand Herald says it is stated that further handsome bequests to tho city of Auckland are likely to bo made public before very long.

With characteristic good-nature, Mr William Fleming, of Rahotu, has promised his fine thoroughbred steeplechaser Jerusalem Neddy for use at the feto in the Sports Ground on November 9. The committee is now considering whether the first prize in the allcomers' competition shall be an income of £5 per week for life or the handsome medal presented by Mr Harris Ford, jeweller. It is contemplated to have a separate class for the three Parliamentary candidates, weight for age. Jerusalem Neddy is expected to arrive in town some days before the King's Birthday, and will probably be housed at the Red House stables.

Scarcity of labour is likely to be the worst difficulty of the Roads Depart-, ruent in expending the special grants of £250jD00 for backblock roads this year (states a Wellington telegram). There are 2734 men at work now— a thousand more than at this time last year — and the Department could place ( another four hundred in various parts of the country. The main purpose to which the backblocks allocation will be applied will be the widening of bridle tracks and dray roads, and it is expected that .between four and five hundred miles can be dealt with during the year. A new method of allocating the expense of superintendence and administration enables the whole of a road grant to be utilised for the actual work of road making. The council of the Barnardo Homes, in England, has commissioned the Rev W. J. Mayers to pay a visit to New Zealand in the interests of the institution. He is now on his way to Australia. He has with him a party of ten trained musical boys, all ot whom have been rescued and educated by the homes, and who will give evidence of the benefits they have received by their music, action songs and drill. Their musical instructor, Mr Harry Aaron, is their accompanist. The Rev W. h. Rice, the organising secretary of the present tour, is already in Melbourne. The party will visit in turn Victoria, Tasmania, New Zealand, New South Wales and Queensland. It is expected that the whole tour will -extend ovei two years. The Champion Cup race in connection with the New Plymouth Homing Pigeon Club was decided during the week-end. Ten members competed in the race, each being limited to one bird. The birds were liberated at intervals of ten minutes. JThe race was flown, from Petone, the birds being liberated by Mr J. J. Abrahall. Following are the performances of the first four : — E. Ward's "Exhibition," shrs. 29£inins., velocity 969 yds. Oft. sin., Ist; H. Moverley's "Orlando," shrs. 36mins., velocity 952—2—4, 2nd; J. Sparks' "Reform," shrs. 39imins., velocity 945—0—8, 3rd; W. Boulton's "Royal Buck," shrs. -39imins., velocity §43— 2—ll, 4th. The Cup has to be won twice in succession or ■ three times ( at intervals to become the absolute v property of a member. Previous winners are:— G. A. Ccrnoy, R. W. Dixon, J. Hurlc and W. Boulton. The Chilian training-ship General Baquedano, which is on a cruise round the world with a number of naval cadets, has arrived at Auckland on her way to Talcahuano. The General Baquedano started out from Valparaiso seven months ago, called first or all at Easter Island, and then proceeded to Tahiti and Honolulu. She afterwards made for the East, and spent a month in Japanese waters, touching at Yokohama and Nagasaki. Calls were also made at Shanghai , Manila, and Singa*pore. From the last-named, the training-ship' went' onjto" Albany, 'and .while ime*e met Admiral Sperry's fleet. The Council of the English Hockey Association has decided (writes a London correspondent) that it cannot send a team to New Zealand, but it will have no objection to one being taken oat by Mr H. S. Kilner, secretary of the iDewsbury and Savile Club, provided a strictly amateur status is enforced. It, is necessary that £1500 should be raised in England before anything can be done, and if this can be achieved, Mr Kilner will proceed with th«f organisation of the team.

What is supposed to have been a striking instance of unthinking carelessness on the part of holiday-makers which came perilously near causing a fatality, occurred at Tomahawk Beach, near Dunedin, on. Wednesday last. Thej Otago Daily Times states that a party] having among its numbers some children went to the locality, making the "Cave" their headquarters. From there the children scattered to the; water's edge, enjoying themselves in; the approved fashion. When -one ofj the boys, a lad of seven years, was hear the water's edge, close in to the cliff, a rock, about the size of a man's head, came hurtling down, and, grazing his head, off which it took some styn, caught him full on the shoulder, the impetus being such that here too, despite the protection of jacket and clothing, the flesh was greatly bruised and the skin torn into ragged strips. A stone on the sand, struck afterwards by the fallen rock, Avas smashed to pieces. The boy was very much shaken and suffered considerably from fright, but a good recovery has been made, and serious consequences are not likely to ensue. Prior to the mishap some sightseers were observed on the cliff above throwing down pebbles on those below, and the supposition is that the larger stone had been loosened by their action to such an extent as to fall?

The Labour Department of the Board of Trade has issued a report on changes in rates of wages and hours of labour in 1907. It shows that in that year the upward movement which had begun in 1905 reached its highest point, the net rise in wages per week amounting to nearly £201,000. Toward the end of 1905 rates of wages began to rise, and in 1906 a net weekly advance of £58,00® was recorded in the wages of those affected. In 1907 this upward movement reached its highest point, the net rise per week being £201,000. an amount only £7000 lower than that of the record year, 1900. ,The recent upward movement was arrested early in 1908, so that it has lasted a considerably shorter time than either the previous decline of 1901-5 or the Upward movement of 1896-1900. Altogether over 1,246,000 workpeople had their rates of wages changed in 1907. Of this number about 1,243,000 received advances amounting to £201,200 per week, and about 3000 sustained decreases amounting to £200 per week. The bulk of the increase of wages occurred in the coal mining industry, the textile trades following next. The preliminary figures for the first six months of the present year show, on the other hand, a fall in the wages. Altogether 851,000 workpeople suffered, and the net result so far is a decrease of £16,000 per week.

Tho best uf.'cr ior Taranaki Petroleum Uiaros on the Wellington nuukrt on Friday uas 7s. Sellers asked for 9s 3d. The" Salvation Army solr-denial week collections in this district resulted in £177 being raised. The bad state of the weather on Thursday last prevented the opening of the rowing season at Waitara.

Strawberries— the first of the season — were auctioned in Auckland on Saturday by the Waitemata Fruitgrowers Co-operative Society, Ltd.

Residents around 801 l Block are reminded of the meeting to be held at the Bell Block Hall on Tuesday evening to consider tho Harbour Board's loan proposals.

Mr Cochrane, of Dunedin, who has been engaged to carry out prospecting operations in the Mokaii district on behalf of the IngleAvood Oil Boring and Prospecting Company, is expected to arrive in New Plymouth to-morrow.

The- takings at tho New Plymouth Amateur Dramatic Club's rendering of "Facing the Music,'' in the Theatre Royal, on Friday evening, amounted to £.54. It is expected that £30 will be available for the Recreation Sports Ground Committee.

According to a Wellington correspondent the Health Department has be^n busy lately collecting samples of milk throughout the Wellington district. They were purchased from delivery carts direct, and it is alleged that it has been found that much water and little cream characterises a number of the purchases, and this week the Stipendiary Magistrates throughout the province will be asked to try cases in connection with the matter.

Parliament's talking capacity, measured by the sessiou's Hansard, was a little more than the average, for the volumes will be very little thinner in spite of tho brevity/ of the session. Having more leisure, and possibly more experience of things in general, the Legislative Councillors aired a great deal more wisdom in proportion to their numbers than did their brethren in the "other place." The Council's debates on social problems, fanned by the enthusiasm of the newest Labour representatives, who moved many motions, enables it to make an easy record for talkativeness. — Wellington Times. Mr T. Francis, plumber, of New Plymouth, met with a very unfortunate accident ofi Saturday. It appears tha* shortly before noon Mr Francis "Was cycling along Devon Street, and w,hen 'lie was near its junction with Dawson Street another cyclist travelling in the shme direction, and who had apparently lost Control of his machine collided with him. Mr Francis was thrown heavily to the ground and had his right leg badly broken immediately below the knee. The knee also was twisted. Ho Avas conveyed to his home in Morley Street and attended by Drs. Leatham and McDairmid. The other cyclist escaped injury. It will be some time before Mr Francis will be able to get about itgain. A relic of Captain Cook's voyages of discovery to New Zealand is in the market for sale, and Mr A. Hamilton, director of the Dominion Museum in Wellington, has received a letter and pictorial description of it. It is a copy of a patu, or "black stone mere, of the kind known as onewa. and is in bronze,' and bears on the blade the ' arms of "los. Banks." The arms were those of Sir Joseph Bairfis before he received his baronetcy. The date on the mere is 1772. It was probably presented to Sir Joseph Banks as a souvenir of the voyage which caused such great enthusiasm in England and on the Continent among scientific men of the eighteenth century. The period which elapsed between the termination of the voyage" in June, 1771, and the early part of 1772 makes it probable that the mere was cast and engraved and given to Sir Joseph Banks after Cook's return. There is strong probability of the genuineness of the relic. How long can I keep my pipe alight ? i This was the question nearly 400 people set themselves to solve at thq L0.0.1L Temple one evening lately at Sydney. And the answer puffed out by the winner in two hours sixteen minutes staggered most people. The world's record .hitherto in this form of mania, the "smoking competition," is said to be two hours fifteen minutes, made in Germany. Punctually at' 8 o'clock (says the Sydney Morning Herald) the 366 competitors who started struck up matches and, seated at 62 little green-baize tables, a steward to each table, began their long vigil to my Lady Nicotine. It was all ver,V| slow at first, as the minutes ticked away, so a musical programme kept the audience amused. But as time wore on the number still in it thinned tremendously. At 9.80 there was scarce a score still smoking. One by one they dropped off amid the comments of the spectators. The stewards watched them carefully to 'see that' no re-light-ing occurred, and that as soon as a pipe went out its owner left his seat. Now they were among the prize-win-ners, for besides the first three, 30 prizes of £1 were given. Here and there the expressions were diverting to watch, as the smoker coaxed a^ little pincirof ashes inso keeping alight. One man near the finish was smoking wood, for his bown glowed like a live coal. Finally it resolved itself into a duel between two young men, who were far calmer, though positively not cooler, than those that crowded around them. At last, just after a quarter to 10. the runner-up "'went out." His rival kept on steadily for another half-hour, thxis winning easily.