SOUTH AFRICA AS A MART FOR OUR PRODUCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11648, 4 January 1902, Page 4

SOUTH AFRICA AS A MART FOR OUR PRODUCE.

An interesting letter from Mr George Steele, of Auckland, who is visiting Soutn Africa, was read at the meeting of the Waikato Farmers' Club a few days ago. Mr Steele stated thrst since his arrival at Johannesburg he had been watching and enquiring to find rut in what way the New Zea!;:nd farmers tould bast taxe advantage of the fplenoid opportunity of disposing of their produce in South Africa. There was a lot of New Zealand frozen meat and butter used (here before the war, and it achieved a splendid reputation. The prices were now governed by military proclamation, the present pi-i.es for frozen bsef and mutton b:-i::g lOcl per lb, veal and lamb being lid per lb. New Zealand and Australian butter was being soid in the open market for 2s per Jb in square pats, and tinned butter for 2- 3d per tin. The whole of the frozen meat trade was in the hands of one firm. He forwarded extracts frcm the " Natal Mercury," showing that the company had made a clear profit of £1.109.591. The company had been in existence for two years, and the profits had been so enormous that the shareholders had received 30s in dividends for every £1 share, and a reserve fund of a million sterling had been created. The way this company did was to buy whole cargo as the steamer lay at the

wharf, and it would not freeze or store the meat for any other dealers. In Capetown it had the contract to supply the military with fresh meat at 9d and lOd per lb. This meat did not cost the company moTe than 4d or 4jd. The whole of the population of O.R.C. and Transvaal, as well as Rhodesia, would have to buy frozen meat for a number of years to come, and by the time the war is finished there will not be any stock left. Rinderpest had now broken out all over the country, and would carry off a lot of cattle. It would, therefore, be years before the farmers . had any stock to sell. They would have to keep all their bullocks for transports, and all their cows to breed from. Mr Steele advised a big comßination of farmers, worked on the co-opera-tive system for the purpose of disposing of meat direct to the consumer. If the published resolve of the New Zealand Government to erect cold storage works at the different towns in South Africa were carried out it would be the finest thing that ever happened for the New Zealand farmers, as they would then be able to sell the whole of their meat supply direct to the consumer. The remainder of the letter contained suggestions as to the appointment of responsible persons to look after sellers' interests in South Africa, the marking and sorting of the meat and produce, etc. THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE. What are you going to give your boys and girls for a. Christmas present? If you use " Book Gift" Tea, you can have your choice from our catalogue of over 500 good and useful books, absolutely free. If you cannot procure catalogues of books from your grocer, send to W. Scoular and Co., wholesale agents, Dunedin, and a copy will be posted you by return mail. The following useful books are on our catalogue: —Sirs Beeton's book on Cookery and Household Management, given with 61bs Tea. The Doctor at Home, a book that should be in every house, given with lOlbs Tea. The Amateur Carpenter, given with lOlbs. The Enquirer's Oracle or Enquire within upon everything. The money spent by others in extensive advertising and showy labels and tins is given by us to the customer in the form of high class literature.— (Advt.)