I.—lo.

APPENDIX.

List of Lettebs.

James Stewart, Farmers' Union, Pleasant Point. Joseph Barugh, Waikato Farmers' Club, Hamilton. John Fisher, Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Pukerimu. Bran Lissaman, Kaiapoi. George Milnes, Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Gore.

J. Mitchell, Porirua. William Nelson, Napier. A. L. Hunt, Otaki. J. Hurse, Oust. G. N. Hunt, Nelson. J. G. Wilson, Bull's.

Sir, — Pleasant Point, 16th September, 1902. At a meeting of the Pleasant Point branch of the Farmers' Union, held on the 15th instant, I was instructed to forward you the following resolution, which was carried unanimously, and which, we hope, you will bring before the Frozen-meat Committee when sitting in Wellington, of which you are chairman; viz.: "That, in order to improve the frozen-meat trade and open up new markets, the Government be asked to guarantee that if the meat companies forward two or three shipments of frozen-meat to the principal ports of the United Kingdom the same price will be secured as is current in the London market (according to grade) at the time of sale." I have, &c, James Stewart, Secretary, Farmers' Union, Pleasant Point. Mr. Buddo, M.H.E., Wellington.

Sir, — Waikato Farmers' Club, Hamilton, 17th September, 1902. Thanks for the invitation to Wellington re the frozen-meat question. I brought this subject up at our last club meeting, thinking some suggestion might be thrown out, but no one had any proposal to make, and, as I know very little about the subject, I will not come to Wellington. There is one point which should not be overlooked, and that is insurance. It has been clearly proved time after time that a very great deal of meat supposed to be damaged is perfectly sound. The insurance companies do not care, because they charge a sufficiently high premium to cover these fraudulent claims. So long as it comes out of the producers' pocket no effort will be made to stop it. I would, therefore, suggest that all the freezing companies form a mutual insurance amongst themselves, and look to it that no unreasonable claims are paid. Yours, &c, D. Buddo, Esq. Joseph Barugh.

Sir, — Pukerimu, Waikato, 17th September, 1902. I have the honour to acknowledge your letter of the Bth instant, and to thank you for the invitation you have given me to attend and give evidence before the Frozen-meat Committee. Ido not consider that I possess the necessary information to make my evidence of sufficient value to the Committee. Though 1 fatten a quantity of stock every year, and a large proportion of them are exported, yet these are always sold outright to the Auckland Freezing Company ; so that I have no practical experience as an exporter of frozen meat. For the information of the Committee, I may say that in this district during the past four years sheepbreeders have catered largely for the London market, more especially in lambs, the result being that the coarser long-woolled rams are unsaleable, while the Leicester, Shropshire, and Southdown rams are freely used to cover the various breeds of ewes. As this course of breeding is very similar to that pursued in the South, uniformity of product should result; and a careful culling out of inferior animals will, it is hoped, materially raise the values. The general committee of the Agricultural and Pastoral Association yesterday appointed me to represent the association before your Committee, but no evidence has been furnished for your information. I trust that the above statement will be a sufficient excuse for not accepting your invitation. I have, &c, D. Buddo, Esq., M.H.R., Wellington. John Fisher.

Sir, — Kaiapoi, 19th September, 1902. Replying to your inquiry of the Bth instant re frozen-meat trade, I suppose the point to be considered will be the price obtained for stock here. The best assistance the Government can give will be to reduce the rate of railway-carriage, which might be done without loss, as the extra amount carried would make up the deficit. In Canterbury the competition is so keen that the fanner gets the full value of his stock, and often a little more ; and I do not see why it should be different in the North Island, where, if the grower is not satisfied with the prices offering, he has every facility to ship on his own account.

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