The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-10-07
1t Is Made By GraZiGrS to the
Metropolitan Company.
NO INCREASE TO CONSUMER
PaSturage Area Becoming Less and
Less More Plantations and
Many More People.

The graziers of the Islands have in
creased the price of beef to the Metro
politan Meat Company The price has
been five cents pound. Under the
new schedule it will be six. This
means that each bullock will cost the
slaughtering factor about So more than
at present. The change takes effect in
the near future.
For the present the price of meat to
the consumer will not be raised. This
was the statement made yesterday
morning by j. G. Waller, manager of
the Metropolitan Meat Company.
Beef in the Islands was becoming
scarce before the summer and the war
with Spain brought so many more
steamers and sailing vessels and the
camps of soldiers. Within the past
year considerable grazing land on Oahu
has gone into cane. Eva plantation
has been extended. Oahu and Honolu-
lu plantations have been established.
Waialua plantation is to be greatly in
creased in acreage. Waialua will take
limited grazing land. The setting up
Of a plantation on Molokai has in
creased the demand for beef on that
island, as we'll as reducing the pastur-
age. Both the population and the
sugar acreage are increasing on Ha-
waii. The same may be said Of Maui,
where three new plantations are in
prospect. Lanai is to have a planta
L. 4.
to the Metropolitan will have for one
effect the bringing Of more beef from
Maui and Hawaii simply for better
price, unless the raise is met on those
Islands.
A good many of the graZiers are
partners in the Metropolitan Meat
Company. But enough of them are
outsiders to enforce the demand which
they lately made on the Company. It
appears that a number of the individ-
ualS and concerns that have been sup
plying regularly to the slaughtering
business beef on the hoof sent a note
recently TO the effect that they must
have, for good beef hereafter, six in
stead Of five cents. 1t is understood
that a demand was made also for he
placing Of fixed figure on the grades
of meat below first class" but the
pass upon the second stipulation, say
ing that the beef below first class"
will be taken for what It is worth or
not at all. The graziers who happen
to be stockholders in the Metropolitan
have what looks like a very good
thing" They get the first profit and
then eventually get a share of every
thing made by the Metropolitan. At
the slaughtering pens all that comes to
the killer is utilized for trade purposes
one way or another. The hoofS, shinS,
horns, heads and ''innardS" all fetch
something, out the whole of which the
grazier who is partner with the COM
pany gets a portion.
The fear has been expressed many
times lately amongst houSeholders that
the price of table meats was likely to
be increased. According to the man
agemant of the Metropolitan. as noted
above, there will be no rise for the
present. This talk on the market and
the great increase of consumption with
the lessening of grazing ground has
given opportunity again for specula-
ton on plans for importation of frozen
meats from both Australia and the
Coast. Lately beef has been both
scare and high priced on the Coast,
but Australia may be depended upon
indefinitely for frozen mutton, should
great deal more of the pasture land
in the Islands be utilized for either
sugar or coffee. All indications here
are for increase in the consumption Of
beef.