THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2761, 30 July 1883, Page 3

THE FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

A second meeting of persons interested id the frozen meat trade was held at the Ship Hotel ob Saturday afternoon. There was a good attendance, and the room became so crowded, especially the half of it next the door, that many who oams to attend the meeting were unable to get m. The following were among those present: — Messrs T. Acland (who had come from Cbristchureh to represent the Frozen Meat Company now being formed there), E. Acton, F. Archer, W. 8. Armitage, W. Balfoor, S. A. Briitol, — Brown, G. F. Clnlee, a. "W. Cooke, B. El worthy, A. W. Ensor, W. Evans, Fendall, 0. 8. Fraser, H. Ford, J. A. Gamack, A. Grant, J. Gnild, A. Hallamore, T. Hall, J. Hay, Healy, W. B. Howell, A. Hop*, T. Howley, Hunter, P. Jones, F. leCren, G. F. Lovegrove, A. Mcc, Merson, G, C. Mile*, W. Moody, I. Morris, C. N. Orbel), A. Pigeon, L. Price, B. B. Pitt, M. Qainn, B. H. Bhodea Jan., A. Spalding, M. Studholme, A. Sutherland, W. Tosswill, K. Wakefield, L. Walker, P. Wareing, J. Wareiog, T. H. Wigley, B. Woollcombe and A. W. Wright. There were tome fifteen or twenty others, whose names we failed to ascertain. Mr M. Bladbolme, who was voted to the chair, said he had called the meeting by advertisement, and ha was sure he need offer no excuse for doing so, the importance of the subject to be discussed being a sufficient rr ason for it. There was no settler m the district bat must be well aware that the export of frozen meat wooldjbecome one of the greatest industries m the distriot, and one of the greatest blessings that had ever befallen it. Ha hoped, therefore, that the subject would be given due consideration,, and a wise conclusion come to aa to the best way of carrying on the industry. One point to be discussed was where, if a company were formed, the operations should be carried on, whether at Belfast, Heathoote, Burnside, Port Chalmers, or Timaru ; whether Timaru should be made ft centre of operations, and a company formed to work solely from Timaru. He invited observation* on these and any related points from those present. Mr B. Woollcombe said a gentleman had come from Cbristcburch to make certain re"presentations; perhaps it would be well to hear what he had to say first. Mr T. Acland would tell the meeting what the proposed Chriatchurch Company would be prepared to do. Since his former viait to Timaru ther» had been a very ful} meeting of the provisional direotors of the proposed company, on the 20tb, and he told them exactly what bad occurred at the meeting at Timara on the 14th. After a very fall consideration it was decided that he (Mr Acland) should point oat to the people of Timaru that the proposed company was simply m an embryo state, and therefore was not yet m s> position to deoid* where works should be erected, and he was authorised to ascertain the names of settlers io Mouth Canterbury who would be willing to act as provisional directors. The provisional directors at Gbristohurch wera unanimously of opinion that they shonld work with Timaru if possible, bnt they thought it absurd to expect that a body of merely provisionil directors should undertake to bind the company yet to be formed, .to any particular line of action. It seemed to him unreasonable to ask provisional directors to fix ths head-qnaiters of the future company at one place or another. The Cbristehnroh Seople were anxious of floating a company inep«ndent of locality. It was a matter of indifference to them where the works were carried oa. They were not yet prepared to cay where they should be paced, but they wera prepared to start works wherever it should be decided upon by the company when formed. Their ohief anxiety was to advance the trade. They recognised that there was a large amount of surplus stook to be disposed of, and they cared little where the work was done— whether at Ohristohurch, Timaru, Oamaru, or Dunedio, so long as the surplus was disposed of to the advantage of the district and the colony. It might be the same " Christchnrch " Meat Freezing Company was unfortunately chosen, but there was not muoh m a name, and as far aa the name was concerned it did not matter two straws where the bueiness was carried on, or the meetings of directors held. If the people of Timaru thought it advisable to float a company, and would join the Christchuroh people, the Christchuroh people would be glad to join them. Mr Pigeon asked how many shares m the new company bad already bean taken up m Christchuroh. Mr Acland said that was a question it was not his business to answer here. Mr Woollcombe said that having heard Mr Acland's proposals, it would be advisable to have some resolution placed before the meeting as a basis for diicuieion, and ho would move one proposing to start a company for Timaru alone. Since reading the reports of the last meeting he had spoken to several gentlemen about the matter, and all agreed that a company should be formed m Timarn. It appeared from Mr Aoland's statement that the Christchurch company was yet m embryo j but the company when formed might have a great many Cbristchuroh directors, and very few from Timaru. Mr Aoland: Excuse me for interrupting you, but we are prepared to have as many Ximaru men aa provisional directors as you please : all now present if you please. Mr Woolloombe said he might be m error, but he thought Chris tohurch would secure a majority. A short time ego, before he left for Home, be asked a few gentlemen to meet him to start something of the kind, but the idea was not favored then. He forestw, however, that it would be necessary to start a ompany m this district. At preient large numbers of sheep were sent away to Christchuroh and Donadin, and the

country lost large profits through send ing them «o far. At the time he «pok< of the obj.ctisn was made — the only ob jection made— t)i«t ships would not comi for the sheep. He Wt certain that if then was cargo to bo curried away from Ihi beach at Timaru or from ihe wharf, ► hipi would come here for it. (Hear, hear.) Noi did he sea any reason why large sleamen could not come to take away cargoes ready foi them. They 'could bj within a mile and a-half of the beach, they could be loaded it two or three days, and if they had to lie longer they would be m no danger, as the; could go out if bad weather made it necessary He had observed m the papers that the Wellington Freezing Company were going tc ask the Union Shipping Company to put refrigerators m gome of their vessels, for the purpose of collecting cargoes at different ports on the neighboring coast, as at Wanganut and Ficton, and that plan could be followed here, if the big steamers would not came direct, and the meat transhipped at either Lyttelton or Port Chalmers. He had written to the New Zealand Shipping Company, asking if they would undertake to send Teasels here if cargoes were ready, but they would not guarantee it. He saw by the papers, however, that another Company was about to start a line of direct steamers, and with competition he had no doubt that there would be no difficulty m gettiDg strainers here if the cargoes were ready. Mr Woollcombe concluded by moving — "That this meeting is of opinion that a meat refrigerating company should be formed m Timaru." Mr L. Price (Wainate) seconded the motion. He bad, a month before, advocated m the paper* exactly what they were now doing, and was much pleased when he saw that Mr Studholme had called the meeting. Ho considered the district quite able to undertake the meat-preserving alone. The district was a large one, there was plenty of th» best dock m the country, and there were men of ability and energy to carry out the enterprise quite o» well as their friends m Cbristchurch. They should he self-reliant, and be thoroughly indepandent of any outside compiny. He would not say where the works should be fixed — that was a matter for the directors to suggest afterwards — but he thought they ihould be independent and stand on their own bottom. Timaru was a good port, and if it was not perfect at the present time, the expenditure of the loan would make it as good a port as was to be found m Sew Zealand. He heartily seconded the motion. Mr Moody Baked whether the existing freezing Company at Belfast had made any definite proposals to be submitted to this meeting. The Chairman replied that no such proposals had beon made that he was aware of. Mr Woollcombe's motion was then put and carried, between 40 and 50 hands being held up m favor of, and none against it. Several prrsent refrained from voting. Mr Moody said it was quite evident the feeling of the meeting was m favor of an undertaking of the kind being started here, and he was glad to see that feeling was pretty unanimoup. No doubt it was the thing to be done, and a resolution having been passed affirming its desirability, the next step wonld be to appoint a Committee to obtain information, etc. He would move — " That a Committee be appointed to report at a meeting to be held on August 11th, upon the plan of operations th»t would be likely to suit the requirement! of the district m establishing a Meat Refrigerating Company, the Oommittee to consist of Messrs M. Studholme, E. Blworthy, H. Ford, 8. A. Bristol, C. N. Orbell, 8. D. Barker, G. F. Lovegrove, F. Aroher, B. H. Bhodes, A. W. Wright, T. H. Wigley, W. Grant, J. Fsge, E. Acton, J. Guild, B. Woollcombe, F. LeCren and the mover." The motion was seconded ant! carried nem. con. Mr Acland was abont to leave the room at this stage, to catch the express for Christchurch, and Mr Wright moved that a vote of thanks be accorded him for coming to Timaru and stirring the paople up. If he had not done so they might have lain idle for two or three years longer. Mr Acland said it was pleasing to be told that a Ohrietchurch man could stir them up. He wiibed them all success, and felt sure the Christen urch people would be glad to work with them. Mr Wright's motion was carried by acolamation. Mr Bristol then suggested that as there were so many present, it would be advisable to get up a share list at once. A desultory discusiion followed, the general opinion being that this step would be premature until the value of shares and amount to be called up had been decided. Mr Slworthy said it would ho quite as important to know how much stock each man could supply. Mr Woollcombe considered that there would be no difficulty m getting sheep ; the difficulty would be m getting vessels to take them away. They were almost fighting to secure space m the steamers from Lyttelton. Mr Moody, following Mr Elworlhv's suggestion, recommended that proprietors should calculate before the next meeting how much stook they could supply for the next few years. People would not put their capital into a concern unless there was some guarantee that it would be kept going for some years. Mr Orbell said they would want a secretary, and suggested that Mr Clulee be appointed. The Chairman said Mr Clnlee had offered to do the work until the company was started without remuneration, and they would be glad to accept the offer. It was decided to take down the names of those who would be prepared to take shares, to lighten the labor of canvassing, and about forty of those present gave their names to the Secretary. The meeting than adjourned to the 12th August. Most of the members of the Committee appointed being present, they agrred to bold a meeting on Saturday next, at the tame time and place.