WEST COAST REFRIGERATING COMPANY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 10 September 1924, Page 3

WEST COAST REFRIGERATING COMPANY.

ANNUAL MEETING

The annual general 'meeting of the West Coast Refrigerating Company was held at the company’s office, Patea, on Monday last, My. A. S. Pease (chairman of directors) presiding. In moving the adoption of the balance-sheet, r the chairman stated that the net profit earned during the year just closed was not as great as they would have liked, but that was clue to the past year being practically a. “cheese” year.' which meant plenty of work for little storage. They would not be able to pay any interest for the year. If was very gratifying to know that eveiything is in good order. He regretted exceedingly that they were losing the services of Mr, Grainger, who had been with them ever since the works started, and with the exception of one hitch everything had gone on very smoothly. Mi'. J. 11. Corrigan seconded the report. In. reply to Mr. Winks, the chairman said that they at times to either ship' through Wanganui or rail direct to Wellington. They had endeavoured to get the Wellington Harbour Board to grant them the fixed use of one of their stores, but had been met with a reduction in the charge. The Wellington Harbour Board was advised from Patea when produce was to be stored. Mr. Winks asked who received the produce at- Wellington, and who was responsible that it got into the cool stores. He hoped that better provision would he made in Wellington in future, for it had not been too good in the past. He considered their agents at the other end should look after their interests. There should be no need for the produce to be kept in the trucks for two or three days. The secretary explained fully what they had had to put up with, and which he hoped would not again occur. The motion for the adoption of the report was then put and carried.

The auditor’s report was adopted. For the two vacancies on the directorate, Messrs. Corrigan, Walsh, and F. Carsons were nominated, the ballot resulting in favour of Messrs. Corrigan and Walsh.

The question of a ; bonus to the staff was considered, some members considering that it was a bad principle to grant bonuses, and should be abolished, remarking that if the staff were not getting sufficient pay their salaries should be increased. It was eventually decided to wipe out the system for the future, but leave the matter of payment of a bonus for the past year to the directors to deal with. Mr. McFarlane asked what was the position of the factories with regard, to the South Taranaki Shipping Co. They never saw a. balance-sheet and did not know where they stood. The matter was fully explained by the secretary, who also read the last report and balance-sheet of the company. Tn reply to Mr. Corrigan, the secretary stated that the “Inaha” would prove a very satisfactory. boat and would help to pick up a lot of lost leeway. Mr. McFarlane thought the Inaha was all right, but they wanted a new river. There being no further business. Mr. Corrigan said they all knew that this would be the last,' annual meeting at which Mr. Grainger would be cut. Mr. Grainger, as they all must) admit, had been a good . officer and would be hard to replace. He had built up the company both from the commercial and engineering sides, and had placed the company where it was to-day. Of course it would lie a, long time before they forgot the recent “mix-up.” but that was due solely to the congestion at that time. ' He would move a very hearty vote of thanks to Mr.- Grainger for the splendid services rendered to the company, and wish him and Mrs. Grainger and family long life and prosperity. The chairman, in seconding the resolution. said ho had been associated with. Mr. Grainger for 23 years and had always found him competent and painstaking, and able to fit himself into any groove that ever presented

itself. He could endorse- all that Mr Corrigan had said.

Mr. Grainger thanked the proposer and seconder for their kind remarks. He said it was quite a severance to leave the company, which, had been quite- a- child to him. During the first year of the company there was a limited number of factories belonging to it, and the- tonnage handled was 1000 ; to-day the tonnage was 20,000. _ In its infancy there were many difficulties that had to be overcome ; the bank manager used to make weekly visits to the works to see-how things were going on, and to get information. He was sorry" to leave the company’s employ, but‘still hoped to be of some service to it if ever he was required. He . also wished to thank. the staff, sonic of whom had been in the company’:-; employ for a ” . maiiv years, for the loyal service they had at all times given. It had been said that he was a hard master but he could say that if ever lie had fiad to push things along, it was done as a, matter of duty and not with anv personal motive. Ihe meeting then adjourned.