1.—7

213

Statement showing Particulars of Frozen Meat purchaged on behalf of the Imperial Government and shipped per s.s. "Port Chalmers," sailed 14th January, 1917.

APPENDIX C. Advertised Statement of the Position of W and R. Fletcher (New Zealand), (Limited) in the Meat Trade. To Farmers of the North, and whom it may concern. GENTLEMEN, —An effort-is being made, we understand, to create the impression in the North that, our company is associated with the American Meat Trust. To fair-minded people in the trade this requires no answer from iis. Unfortunately, there are always some opponents who find such calumny useful ; there are others who are thinking more of promoters' pickings than the true interest of the district or the real facts of the case. We rather welcome fair competition, but no one likes to lose his good name without the opportunity of replying, so we have set out below a lew outstanding facts which we, think will show clearly and conclusively that both the firm and everyone associated with it are British. Who are the Whangarei Freezing Company (Limited) ?■ —The Whangarei Freezing Company is a company formed to comply with the statutes of the Dominion by Messrs. W. and R. Fletcher (Limited), London, to take over from the liquidators of the old Whangarei Company the freezingworks at Whangarei Heads. The Whangarei Freezing-works is an open works which, after the war, will be available to all and sundry for the freezing and export of fat stock, exactly on the same lines as the farmers' freezing-works throughout the country, [t is not possible, to do this at the present, time owing to the shortage of space and the, difficulties of keeping the works running on so small an output. Who are W. and R. Fletcher (N.Z.) (Limited) ?■ —When it was found necessary to operate throughout the Auckland District in order to keep the Whangarei works going it was thought best to do so in Messrs. Fletchers' own name, so, as is usual in such cases, a local company was registered, styled as above. Who are" Fletchers" ? —We think this could best be explained by quoting from "A History of. the Frozen Meat Trade," by Critchell and Raymond, published by Constable and Co. (Limited), London :— Page 365. —" W. and R Fletcher (Limited.) is a, company originally established as a private concern in the year 1.888, which has grown continuously until it is now recognized as one of the most, progressive and highly successful businesses in the frozen and chilled meat trade of the United Kingdom. It has . . . retail depots situated in the popular centres, besides wholesale establishments in London, Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, Newcastle, Hull, Sheffield, Southampton, and Leeds. They are also owners of freezing-works at Geelong, Victoria. The managing directors are Mr. Samuel H. Fletcher (son of Mr. Robert Fletcher, founder of the company), Mr. W. J. Kempson, and Mr. William Blagburn, the manager of the retail shops. The two last-named gentlemen have been actively associated with the business since its inception. The head office of the company is situated at 19 and 20 King Street, West Sniithfield, London E.C."

Date of Shipment i Consignor. Port. i W«j£* r i l 'ureases, Tokomaru Sheep-farmers' Freezing Company ; Tokomaru 7,408 (Limited) Hay Gisborne Sheep-farmers' Frozen Meat Company Gisborne 6,865 Poverty Bay Farmers' Meat Company .. ,, 1,443 Nelson Bros. (Limited) .. .. .. „ 277 Ditto (a/c W. Richmond) . . .. .. ,, 648 Hawko's Bay Farmers' Meat Company .. Napier .. ; 3,006 M.Xm.j ■*»■»■ Beet B ™'- Mutton Be?!, '''«'"• 1916. Jan. 2 Carcases. 1,784 Carcases. Quarters. .. : 1,425 UllUS. I'.CIHK. i, 6 „ ■ 3 0 6 Dec. 28 1917. Jan. 8 8 6 I Dili. Dec. 22 „ 23 1917. Jan. 12 „ 12 „ 13 3,965 1,770 .. ! 1,640 2,291 ' 144 331 233 285 616 2 ■ Nelson Bros. (Limited) .. .. .. „ .. 6,840 Ditto (a/c W. Richmond) . . .. .. „ .. 4,449 Thomas Borthwick and Sons (Limited) .. ,, .. 1,579 95 192 372 286 82 Patea Farmers' Co-operative Freezing (lompany Wellington Feilding Farmers' Freezing Company .. j ,, 455 364 1,336 Wellington Meat Export Company .. .. „ 4,000 Wellington Farmers' Meat Company .. ,, 4,47l Gear Meat Preserving and Freezing Company „ 9,794 (Limited) —— Totals .. .. .. 51,235 6,000 i 871 9,008 8,291 6,417 286 82