PATEA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 September 1924, Page 10

PATEA.

REFRIGERATING COMPANY’S

REPORT. The following report of the manager of the. West Coast Refrigerating Co. '-Mr F. W. Grainger) was presented to the annual meeting' on Monday last: In presenting this detailed report lor the year endiijg June 30, 1924, there are several features that will call for comment. This season, unlike last season, has been a cheese year. As the figures show, the increase in the total cheese received at the works over last season was 49,465 cases, and a reduction of 59,765 boxes of butter. The total tonnage ' handled this year was 19,544 tons, as against 17,564 tons last season, being an excess of all previous records by 1982 tons, being 11.5 per cent over last season. During December we shipped 53.878 cases of cheese, being 'approximately one-fourth ~f the total season’s and taxed our resources to their utmost to get these shipments away, as we only had two steamers available, consequently a considerable quantity had to be -hipped via Wanganui. The shipment of this large quantity of cheese in December to fill space in the Home steamers owing to scarcity of meat cargoes undoubtedly had a detrimental effect on toe London market- (as other ports also shipped heavily during December) owing to heavy shipments arriving at the one time. Further loss was experienced a-t the London end owing to holding in unsuitable storage, whereas the produce could have been held in refrigerated stores at this end at a cheaper rate, and any money earned •would have been earned by the producers’ own works. No doubt the question of controlling shipments will receive the atention bf the Control Board in the near future. The new regulations call for the delivery of cheese at the Home steamers’ side at- not r.-.ceed-mg 55deg. Fahrenheit, which will necessitate cheese going into the Harbour Board cool store at Wellington at any time that Home boats may be delayed, or in the event of cheese having to be got down ahead of shipments. Shipping.—The T.S.M.S. Inaha is now on the trade, and is proving useful vessel, being insulated in the most improved manner, and given .nasonab: good weather conditions should orove a very useful addition in the Patea trade; she has carried 500 cases of cheese as against 1500 by the oilier vessels on the same draft, and with the three vessels loadihg on suitable

5500 cases of cheese can i e shifted at the one time.

Storage Department.—Having regard to .the very large quantity of ‘cheese handled and the heavy shipments in December of last year, it is pleasing to record the very good work done by this department. It is . necessary to make a great many coastal shipments during the season, in lots varying from 2500 to 900 cases of cheese, defending on conditions. It is absolutely i eeessary to know what is oh hoard each coastal ship, and as far as possible keep complete graded lines in each lot in sequence as graded, so that in the event of any coastal boat- being delayed and missing Hoine steamer documents can be prepared for complete lines. This entails extra work in stacking and tallying, but cannot be avoided. Quite an -appreciable amount of cheese was received last season damage by rats. Factories were notified of this, and in some instances when the cheese was tendered to the Home steamers it was rejected, but the majority of it was eventually shipped. Engine-room Department,—The whole of the plant and machinery has been thoroughly overhauled, and is' in good order »for the coming season. It was found necessary to rebore the 50-ton ’•ompresso-r and fit a new piston, owing to excessive wear, due to the soft metal in the original piston. The producers and coolers have been overhauled. and are in good order. Appreciation.—As this will probably he rav last report as your manager, 1 wish to take this .opportunity of expressing my sincere th Silks to- Mr A. C. Pease as chairman, and to the directors for the confidence they have shown in me in the past and for the courtesy and consideration I have at all times received at their hands. We have passed through a very trenuous biie during the war period, and as the figures already quoted in the financial statement show, -a great deal of hard work was done at a time when both men and material were scarce, and often entailed a good deal of anxiety nnd worry, but happily this is all in the past, and I sincerely hone that good days are now ahead for the company and its management. To the staff I wish to convey my sincere thanks for their support and co-operation, and trust that my successor will have the same support as I have had. To Mr E. C. Wood, Chief Government Grader, and his two assistants I would like to express my sincere thanks for their assistance during the great many years wo have worked together. I have always found the Government officials anxious to assist us to their utmost, nnd often going out of their way to give assistance on occasions when we have been extra busy, and they have at all times been most considerate of the interests of the industry as a whole and of this company in particular. It has been a pleasure to work with them.