STOCK FOR FREEZING.

Wairarapa Age, 18 March 1925, Page 7

STOCK FOR FREEZING.

NEW MARLBOROUGH POLICY TO FATTEN AT HOME. The export of fat stock from Marlborough to Canterbury and Wellington, says “The Press/’ is a matter whi:-l- is of grave concern to all who arc interested in the welfare of the district. It has no uoubt to some extent been due to the fact that the small annual turnover at the local freezing works has necessitated a higher charge than at the larger works iii other districts, but it is also due to the fact that the prices paid for stock elsewhere have enabled dealers to buy in this district, transport the stock to Wellington or drive it to Canterbury, and still make a profit. The question was fully discussed between the N.Z. Refrigerating Co., Ltd., and a freezing committee appointed by the farmers. It will be remembered that when two years ago, at the request of the farmers’ organisations, arrangements were made for the institution of a meat pool to be conducted by the Refrigerating Company on behalf of any farmers who wished to avail themselves of such facilities, the company decided that they could not in that case continue to act as buyers of stock. The support accorded by farmers to the company’s meat pool has, however, been so meagre that the freezing committee have felt themselves justified in releasing the company from their undertaking, and will welcome their return to the arena as buyers of fat stock. The company has published the following schedule of prices for prime fat stock delivered at Picton during the coming seoon:—

Lambs—U/421b 31 Ad per lb, o/42 lid, second quality lid. Wethers—U/56 Bd, 56/64 71d, 64/72 6|d, o/72 54d, second quality- 6Jd. Ewes—U/64 6d, 64/72 sd,' o/72 4d.

The above prices will be paid for stock drafted on the farm and sent direct to the freezing works. An additional allowance of 4d per head will be made for all fat stock so drafted and put on trucks by the owner or his agent. This level of prices is understood to be fully equal in all particulars to the Canterbury scale. Tie failure of the pool system is attributed to tho disinclination of the average farmer to wait for final realisations. This system was really the best way of overcoming the difference between the Marlborough and Canterbury markets, and it is said that some farmers who tried it came out on top, but the great majority preferred to sell their sheep straight out and be done with them, and thus the scheme fell through. As things were going, however, fats as well as stores were being conveyed ont of the district wholesale, and the output of the Picton freezing works declined seriously. Evidently the company has now set itself to defeat this trend in earnest, and its new policy is expected to have a telling influence in the way of encouraging the fattening branch of the industry here, and attracting the production of the Picton works. In all probability one effect will be a material reduction in the trading of stores to Canterbury. Tho prices now offered by the company for fat stock will be a strong inducement to the growers to fatten their sheep en their own farms.