AKITIO FREEZING WORKS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2188, 29 June 1914, Page 8

AKITIO FREEZING WORKS

AN ADDRESS TO ' THE SE'ITLERS. ißy Tcleffraph.—Hpccial Corruspnndeiit.J Pohgaroa, June 27. Mr. Cooper, managing director of the Wellington Fanners' Freezing Company, by invitation addressed a larjjc number oi' settlers at Sir. Frank Armstrong's -homestead this afternoon, regarding freeziug works for Akitio. The proposal is the outcome of tho Hon. Mr. Fisher's visit here 'ill Marcli last. _ Mr. Cooper said that whatever the opinions of tho individual members of tho board of directors of his company were ; tho matter had never been officially discussed by the board, and any proposal would havo to come from the settlers th&msolvea. I He stated that tho. nominal capital of his own company was £60,000. Tlie whole of it was allocated, and the company had no capital for the new company. Tho present capacity of bin works was 4000 sheep, and addition* vroro proposed which would increase this to 4oOU.

Mr. Cooper said that Akitio_ liad_ as fine fattening country as any in New Zealand. The most profitable branch of the industry was the frozen lamb trade, and none with the exception of the Old Country could compete with New Zea laud. At present owing to the long distance they were driven to the freezing works, lambs from Alcitio by the time they reached the works depreciated a good deal. In a canvass for capital tho Wellington Farmers' Company only succeeded in getting £36,000 among the farmers, the balance being subscribed in Masterton. To form a company here he thought it would bo rather a big hill to climb. Tho collecting of capital would prove formidable. The country was big enough to need fairly large works, and while enhancing the value of land £8 or £10 per acre, it was difficult to convince the farmer ,to subscribe £20. He believed that they could fatten as many, lambs in Akitio as any part in New Zealand. Once they did that they would have a monopoly of. the fat lamb trade. If the Pongaroa railway was constructed —and ho believed there was every reasonable expectation of it being so —tharo would probably bo danger of competition unless a branch line be made to Akitio. Referring to the cost of small freezing works, ho instanced tho labour difficulty, and also declared that a new company in Hawke's Bay had a great difficulty in getting a competent staff. If tho settlers decided, to have freezing works, lie advised them to becomo a branch of either his or some" other company. Referring to the American Meat Trust, Mr. Cooper said its operations so fat were to the advantage of the farmers, by putting the price Hip, but if the Trust got control it would be .disastrous to small freezing works. He estimated tho cost of freezing works at Akitio at £50,000 for an output of 1000 sheep per day. Mr. Cooper also replied to several questions. ■ A committee comprising Messrs. Armstrong, Smith, Hunter, Franklin, Orosse, Grey, Burling, Stewart, and Escott, M.P., was appointed with power to add to their number to canvass the district.