ABRAHAMS & WILLIAMS, LTD.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1294, 24 November 1911, Page 7

ABRAHAMS & WILLIAMS, LTD.

ANNUAL MEETING. (By Telegraph.—Press Association I Palmerston N„ November 23. At (he annual mooting of shareholders ot Abraham and Williams, Ltd., held today, Mr. B. S. Abraham, chairman of directors, in reviewing prospccts of tho stock markets, said that the probable expansion of tho frozen meat and butter markets to foreign countries, the increased spending power of the workers, resulting from their efforts to obtain better pay (which must bo more or less successful), tho reduction in the flocks of the world, and the universal demand of tho masses for better conditions generally, must necessarily react in increased consumption of our products, and therofrom better prices; at the same time there seemed some dancer of an oversanguine viow being taken by investors iu land, prices seemed to bo advancing somewhat abnormally, and another reason such as last year would have n most disastrous effect on recent buyers; this danger might bo rectified by the large number of uropertics now being cut up, or that will be to in the near future. Wool appeared to be under a temporary cloud, and a drop of something like 2d. per lb. at the reccnt sales was rnlßciently ; serious, whilst this was the result mainly of tho drop at Home. No doubt the buyers' strike had something to do with it. This bad been settled c<u reasonable lines, and thero was no reason why the business &hould not be carried on amicably in future. Colonial wool sales have now assumed such importance, and wero so well attended by buyers from foreign countries, that with few etcontions growers of small clips.of fifty bales, or under, could practically obtain London prices here, and thus save cost of freight, insurance, etc., whilst they had the additional advantage of knowing nrocisely how they stood, and were in no danger of having to pay reclamations of money, which they had already spent and forgotten. The price of Storo sheep, moro particularly brcedine ewes, should be good this season, considering tho considerable decreitft!; in tho flocks of the Dominion, which had been intensified by a very light lambing season. The meeting declared a dividend of six per centum, and carried £2935 to reservo fond, making it ,£®oo. The company had reduced its liabilities by £80,000 in three years.